Where do you come from? I come from a land overlooking the mare Tirreno, a place called Etruria. Our gods are the sun and the moon, the sea and the wind, the lightning. But, who are you? I am a Fulguratores, a spiritual chief. We have the task of observing the trajectory of lightning, and there are many reasons why we do so. 

Cadogan Gallery is delighted to announce Sono Etrusco, an exhibition of new works by Italian artist Lorenzo Brinati. This will be his first solo show in the UK following the success of the group show Under a Dome with Cadogan in 2021. 

Brinati’s works stem from a rich understanding of the materials he uses and the traditions connected to these. This series, named for the ancient Etruscan civilization originally formed in the Tuscan countryside the artist inhabits, alludes to an ancient system of knowledge finding connection between the elements, celestial bodies and human life and memory through the energies and frequencies all of these aspects emit. This connection to the deep rooted history of the environment he works in is felt in all Lorenzo Brinati’s artworks, through their exploration of texture, terrain and colour, but also in the titles referencing ancient mythologies and characters. 

As a sculptor, his style derives from an attention to nature and the harmony and rhythm in the architecture of his home while simultaneously looking east, drawing inspiration from his travels as a sailor in Greece and Turkey. His practice began at the age of fourteen as the artist began sculpting stones from the street into faces, similar to Modigliani’s head. 

His sculptures now retain these references, although now applied in marble, onyx and alabaster. Craftsmanship is at the centre of his practice as a sculptor and painter; his works fully explore material and texture using plaster, pigment, lime and even rain applied to the canvas with his hands. Referencing the rich environment he grew up in, Brinati searches for completeness, purity and hidden luminosity in his works. His unique goal is to return to the primordiality of emotions in his work fully satiating the senses. 

It is not a hidden truth, just observe. "The wind speaks to you, listen to it" This is the highest form of art, for if art today serves any purpose, It brings man back to contemplation. It is the answer to our questions, It guides the soul in its spiritual evolution. - Lorenzo Brinati 

Growing up between council houses and the workshops of Oltrarno, Brinati was able to experience the last remnants of Renaissance Florence. Now working in both Florence and the Tuscan countryside, Brinati combines this education with more than two decades working as a conservator and restorer in the traditional workshops he had grown up around. His paintings transform the skills of traditional Renaissance craftsmanship into a modern and yet timeless language, combining ancient techniques with new materials.

About the Gallery:

Cadogan is an independent contemporary art gallery with spaces in London, Hampshire and Milan. For over forty years our mission has been to represent, support and curate the work of a diverse roster of emerging and mid-career artists. Since joining the gallery in 2014, Freddie Burness has added a new international perspective to the rich history and distinctive approach of the gallery’s programme.