Scido (RC) ITALY
1946

Gaetano Zampogna was born in 1946 in Scido (Reggio Calabria), he lives and works in Rome.

In 1989, as one of the founders of the Artmedia group, Zampogna – at one with the theoretical guidelines of the movement, based on an idea of art seen as an “appropriation and looting” of 20th-century works – added original works by artists such as Schifano, Boetti and LeWitt to monochrome or dichromatic surfaces.

On the heels of this experience, which came to an end in 1994, Zampogna shifted his work towards the retrieval of a figurative painting contaminated by present-day media myths. Initially highlighting the frailty of realities perceived as advertising products, he superimposed “world events” as medial windows taken from the covers of the most renowned international magazines over the monochromatic and lunar grandeur of great, anonymous faces.

In his next phase, Zampogna created an uncanny relationship of identity between the two subjects, expanding the previous windows until they correspond to the portraits – that is, until “real Reality” and “medial Reality” become interchangeable.

The artistis subsequent works represent a further, logical step towards an ironic and tragic analysis of realty: the characters bizarrely inhabit the “scratch card images”, L‘Isola del Tesoro (“Treasure Island”) and Animali Porta Fortuna (“Animal Mascots”), icons of a belittled contemporaneity, represent the expectation of a mediocre catharsis: the false hope of personal wealth.

In 2009, the artist produced a series of portraits of poet friends. Monochromatic and extremely recognizable, these faces are barely “disturbed” by the incorrect use of well-known proverbs (for example, “its bark is worse than… its fins”).

In 2010 saw the start of the most recent phase in Zampogna’s work. His visionary energy led him to organise great visual machines featuring two allegorical characters as their protagonists: the giants Mata and Grifone from the remote imaginary of Southern Italy, who appear – almost as if conjures up – on vast fabrics decorated with floral motifs, becoming a crystallised mise-en-scène and escape stratagem towards an original rituality to be countered with the void of history, with the dreamlike tangibility of a shadow taking visual shape. The stature of the Giganti in posa (“Resting Giants”) overturns the certainty of reality and inverts its chronologies as if to claim that only what can be painted is real, and likewise only what does not exist is real.

From 2014 on, following this fable and dreamlike experience, the artist has set out – in his own way – to reopen his eyes on the world, talking one of the dramatic trends covered by (to name just a few) Rembrandt, the Carracci family, Chaim Soutine, Picasso, Francis Bacon, Damien Hirst: slaughtered animals.

In Zampogna, the slaughterhouse or the butcher’s shop is an incorporeal mise-en-scène where the animal and his executioner coexist harmoniously on damask fabrics, almost becoming the decoration themselves. The tragedy proves to be defused, as if to affirm that the medial defusing of the tragedy is itself actually the true, great tragedy of contemporaneity.

In 2019 the Marca Museum (Catanzaro) hosted Zampogna’s solo exhibition “Nel corpo dell’Arte”, curated by Teodolinda Coltellaro and Giorgio de Finis.

Selected works

Gaetano Zampogna
A caval donato…, 2001
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Animal Mascots, 2004
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Chi dorme…, 2001
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Homage to Bacon, 2015
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Covid stories, 2021
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Grifone #34, 2012
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Mata #32, 2012
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Mata #18, 2012
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Grifone #27, 2012
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Grifone #26, 2012
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Mata #21, 2012
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Grifone #5, 2010
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Mata #5, 2010
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Mata #1, 2010
Enquire
Gaetano Zampogna
Grifone #1, 2010
Enquire

Related Exhibit

Group Exhibition
Miscellaneous vol. 0
THE ART PRACTICE
14 May — 28 June 2019
Group Exhibition
Zodiac
12 ARTISTS FOR 12 STAR SIGNS
4 December 2018 — 2 February 2019
Group Exhibition
Homage
DUCROT / TITONEL / VISMEH / VON THÜNGEN / ZAMPOGNA
9 February — 18 March 2017
Solo Exhibition
Gaetano Zampogna
MATA AND GRIFONE
26 November 2015 — 16 January 2016
Group Exhibition
Double match
FROM THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY TO THE THIRD MILLENNIUM
1 December 2013 — 31 January 2014
 

Request

In order to respond to your request, we will process the personal data you have provided to communicate with you in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe from the Newsletter or change your preferences at any time by clicking on the link in our emails.

 
 

Request

 
 
Accept Refuse arclinehome bedless bed solid wood nordic white wax wood bed beech wood modern minimalist solid wood suspended bed arclinehome nordic style internet celebrity adult rocking chair lounge chair lazy chair arclinehome rock sofa italian minimalist living room fabric sofa large unit sofa arclinehome italian minimalist solid wood grain large and small coffee table combination round walnut color tea table arclinehome multi functional folding sofa bed living room with vacuum compression sofa arclinehome armrests rattan woven chairs household backrests practical arclinehome multi functional sofa bed foldable dual use living room double fabric sofa for sitting and sleeping arclinehome multi functional folding sofa bed living room with vacuum compression sofa arclinehome solid wood chairs can be stacked and combined for a simple living room arclinehome middle ancient style solid wood dining table with circular retro cream texture high end household dining table with turntable arclinehome french retro style dining cabinet with light luxury and high end glass door arclinehome rock sofa italian minimalist living room fabric sofa large unit sofa arclinehome middle ancient style solid wood dining table with circular retro cream texture high end household dining table with turntable arclinehome removable minimalist coffee table storage rack bedside table arclinehome nordic style internet celebrity adult rocking chair lounge chair lazy chair arclinehome removable minimalist coffee table storage rack bedside table arclinehome american light luxury sofa buckle small living room sofa arclinehome bedless bed solid wood nordic white wax wood bed beech wood modern minimalist solid wood suspended bed arclinehome rock sofa italian minimalist living room fabric sofa large unit sofa arclinehome removable minimalist coffee table storage rack bedside table arclinehome multi functional folding sofa bed living room with vacuum compression sofa arclinehome solid wood chairs can be stacked and combined for a simple living room arclinehome multi functional sofa bed foldable dual use living room double fabric sofa for sitting and sleeping arclinehome rock sofa italian minimalist living room fabric sofa large unit sofa arclinehome nordic style internet celebrity adult rocking chair lounge chair lazy chair arclinehome french retro style dining cabinet with light luxury and high end glass door arclinehome italian minimalist solid wood grain large and small coffee table combination round walnut color tea table arclinehome swinging chair home balcony rattan woven leisure lounge chair simple design arclinehome mobile storage bedside cabinet arclinehome italian minimalist leather headboard cowhide tatami bed master bedroom down soft bag bed arclinehome rock sofa italian minimalist living room fabric sofa large unit sofa arclinehome multi functional folding sofa bed living room with vacuum compression sofa arclinehome rock sofa italian minimalist living room fabric sofa large unit sofa arclinehome bedless bed solid wood nordic white wax wood bed beech wood modern minimalist solid wood suspended bed arclinehome french retro style dining cabinet with light luxury and high end glass door arclinehome removable minimalist coffee table storage rack bedside table arclinehome rock sofa italian minimalist living room fabric sofa large unit sofa arclinehome armrests rattan woven chairs household backrests practical arclinehome rotating tea table villa minimally creative suspended large house tea table arclinehome american style vintage homestay solid wooden bed french retro bed black carved minimalist arclinehome middle ancient style solid wood dining table with circular retro cream texture high end household dining table with turntable arclinehome rotating tea table villa minimally creative suspended large house tea table arclinehome swinging chair home balcony rattan woven leisure lounge chair simple design arclinehome french retro style dining cabinet with light luxury and high end glass door arclinehome corbusier chair designer single sofa chair stainless steel balcony leisure chair arclinehome solid wood chairs can be stacked and combined for a simple living room arclinehome armrests rattan woven chairs household backrests practical arclinehome swinging chair home balcony rattan woven leisure lounge chair simple design arclinehome american style vintage homestay solid wooden bed french retro bed black carved minimalist arclinehome marble dining table for home use high end feel light luxury 10 people stainless steel
twete outdoor swan garden statue white aaditya mid century modern 2 cabinets shelves tv stand 44754a9a iris outdoor wicker dining chairs with water resistant cushions set of 4 kainu wheat fabric counter stools set of 2 thelma outdoor mixed mocha wicker end table 8e2153a5 titeca contemporary 4 piece dresser and nightstand set cotorro velvet barrel design accent chairs 393a0f85 staley outdoor dog garden statue antique white lucas fabric recliner chair 103915df catrina mahogany stained wood bar stools set of 2 chrissy 4 shelf metal wood etagere bookcase d30d615f laiah outdoor wicker 3 seater sofa with coffee table mason mid century modern button tufted recliner bruce handcrafted boho mango wood side table adef25d2 hallie traditional tufted gray new velvet armless dining chairs set of 2 18412448 fox outdoor 7 piece acacia wood dining set with stacking wicker chairs melisa boho cotton pillow cover set of 2 d7976adb danae coral outdoor 9 seater aluminum l shaped sofa sectional and fire pit set 155b9e6f laiah outdoor 4 piece wicker club chair chat set with wood finished fire pit e70ff238 arlost outdoor 3 piece multi brown wicker chat set with stacking chairs b0a92bf7 anastasia light gray fabric dining chairs set of 2 2b0b4bea veldede levant outdoor 4 seater wood and wicker club chair set with fire pit 4fe1a774 may traditional home office chair 00811158 crested bay outdoor aluminum 4 piece loveseat chat set san louis obispo outdoor wicker storage box rockney contemporary oversized fabric pushback recliner 7afa704d lorelei outdoor 4 seat teak finished acacia wood chat set with water resistant cushions dean outdoor wooden club chair with cushions set of 2 white and teak finish lewis modern bathroom floor storage rack with drawer owen christmas wreath 24 mixed spruce battery operated includes timer warm white led christmas lights 08e0f6e3 covington outdoor 5pcs cast aluminum dining set forgan artificial laurel tree jameson leather high back wingback armchair soloman mid century fabric dining chairs with wood finished legs set of 2 c81f56ac francisco 7pc outdoor grey wicker seating sectional set w cushions payne outdoor 5 piece round acacia wood dining set 833fe47d pantini modern button tufted club fabric upholstered ottoman 476ca1f0 elowen round pedestal mango wood side end table df2e41eb daiquan outdoor acacia wood barstools with outdoor mesh set of 4 9729e053 sandia handcrafted boho mango wood nightstand set of 2 airyanna outdoor 3 piece wood and wicker chat set with fire pit simon outdoor aluminum chaise lounge set with c shaped end table parma outdoor acacia wood club chairs with cushions maysin contemporary tufted fabric 3 seater sofa 2ceb56af bellomy outdoor aluminum dining table black da718996 percival contemporary dining chairs set of 4 e8490341 deschutes mid century modern 2 drawer cabinet c44df356 jiro outdoor wicker barstool gray c8be394f hysham boho industrial handcrafted mango wood coffee table honey brown and antique gray