The Nohra Haime Gallery is pleased to present 1980s Italy, from October 12 – November 2, 2022, followed by the opening reception on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00pm. The exhibition features Italian artists from the Transvanguardia movement, one of the most influential of the Post-war era along with Arte povera. The exhibition will take you through the origins of this movement, and how this informed Italian contemporary artists, some of which are represented by the gallery. 

The other most influential Italian movement was Arte povera. However, the most important international trend prior to the 1980s was conceptual art. Alighiero Boetti and Laura Grisi, both included in this exhibition, exemplify the influence Arte povera had on their works, however they are also considered original examples of international conceptual art. Boetti’s Cinque X Cinque = Venticinque epitomizes his interest in systems of classification and non-Western traditions, influenced by his travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Laura Grisi reflects through her series “The Mirrored Palace,” and the materials she uses, both a sensorial and mental visual representation.  

The Transvanguardia artists represented in this exhibition: Francesco Clemente, Sandro Chia, Enzo Cucchi, Piero Gilardi and Mimmo Palladino, wanted to return to the past, to traditional painting. One of the first exhibitions they had as a group was in the 1980 Venice Biennale, where their works stood out for their diverse styles and common vision. They intentionally depict figuration, and they recuperated the importance of the image and narrative, as opposed to the concept. Interestingly though, they were still heavily influenced by arte povera and the use of new materials and exploration of texture. This is clearly seen in Palladino’s pictorial representations of Untitled (Blue) and Untitled (Green). Sandro Chia’s Unitled, shows his larger-than-life figures, also reflecting their human vulnerability and sensibility. Gilardi, although not one of the most famous Transvanguardia artists, was a fundamental player and he was known for his use of extremely varied material and texture seen in both Foglie and Pave Piuma. The legacy of these Transvanguardia artists can be seen in contemporary artists such as Silvio Merlino with his painting of La Stanza delle Lucciole where he uses diverse materials in a traditional painting, evoking an extraordinary texture and emotional directness. On the other hand, Nicola Bolla reflects this return to the past focusing on the image in Untitled (Bird), as well as through materiality and a reading between object and design in Vanitas, Black Panther.

Dates: October 12 – November 5, 2022
For more information: Please contact Carolina Scarborough at 212-888-3550 or [email protected]