Galleria Lorcan O'Neill is pleased to announce a new exhibition with Italian artist Luigi Ontani.

 

Perentorio presents a selection of new and historical works made in different media from photography to glass, ceramics, and wood.  Through the display of a number of his masterpieces, this show examines Ontani’s long career and his wide recognition as one of the most significant figures in the experimentation with and development of different languages in contemporary artistic practice.  Across various decades of uninterrupted activity, Luigi Ontani has employed video, performance, photography alongside more traditional artistic techniques, such as painting - both oil and watercolour - and sculpture.  He was among the first to rediscover the fascinating possibilities of ceramic.

 

Among historical works in the show is one that guards the gallery - ErmEstetica dell’Arma, a large ceramic work dedicated to Carabinieri, Italian Army, to guard the gallery; on the wall an installation with photographs of 1991, titled Ennesima Cena, an original and marvellous version of the 'Last Supper'. This work consists of 13 colour photographs each one representing the Apostles whom Jesus shared last meal with before his death. Ontani captures each of them with symbols and attributes drawn from the vast repertoire of literature and legends that regard them and that is always a reference for his works.

 

In the big room there will be a new work , especially conceived for the show, made of ceramics and dedicated to the mythical figure of Pythagoras, (philosopher and mathematician, well known for his geometrical theorem - Samo 572 a.C. ca. - 490 a.C.). As usual Ontani uses his body as his primary tool to portray allegorical and mythical figures: in the ErmEstEtica Pythagorea he pretends to be Pitagora and he is covered with numbers which have been given a magic power by Pythagoras. The liaison between historical and new works fits well with the harmony of themes in the show referring to both Western and Eastern cultures: there are some “indians” photos and masks which are made in Indonesia; and few pairs of sophisticated shoes Eastern like those that Maestro Ontani wears often. Further more there are some other works strictly related to the city like a glass pot representing Roman Emperor Nero. Ontani’s artistic language is unique and “perentorio” and it imposes on contemporary art landscape as one of the most significant figures.