of his career: the pop period, between the second half of the Sixties and 1974; the “Aphonic Alphabet”, between 1975 and the end of the decade, where the painted folds appear that hide letters of the alphabet; and the last period - in turn divided into two expressive nuclei - where the "fold" becomes the only protagonist of his work, now made three-dimensionally in canvas or lead.

It is precisely this stylistic element that becomes emblematic of what has emerged over the years as a constant in Mariani's vision and poetics: the sensuality of painting.

The Milanese project, with a nucleus of over thirty works, envisages that the pop moment be exhibited in the gallery's stand at the miart fair, while a careful selection of the other two periods can be seen in the gallery rooms. In this way the public can observe the development of over fifty years of work, noting differences and similarities, contingent motifs and constant themes within all his activity.

The fold, an element to which few have paid attention, but which is always present in the history of painting, is the trait-d'union of the two exhibition venues, and above all of the artist's activity, who in this way manages to combine the absolute novelty and recognisability of one's own research – which almost becomes a “figure”, a “brand” – with the great river of the best pictorial tradition.

The exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual catalog (Italian and English) published by Progettoarte elm, containing the curator's critical text, the reproduction of all the works on display and updated bio-bibliographic apparatus.