Inaugurated online with a video presentation in which Marco Emilio Bertona, founder of MEB Arte Studio, Rossella Farinotti, author of the critical text in the catalog, and Matteo Negri himself, the exhibition Ho le montagne negli occhi (I have the mountains in my eyes), open until 25 January 2021, presents the latest works of the Milanese artist. As he has accustomed us in recent times, his research on sculptural language – which has always been his favorite – has taken a different turn compared to past solutions: already since the end of 2019 the works began to present flat surfaces similar to the traditional pictorial display, while continuing to retain a certain consistency and physicality. As Rossella Farinotti affirms, the works exhibited by MEB “are wall panels to be contemplated as colored mirrors”, windows that include and return new visions and that are able to transport the observer into new and changing dimensions.

Again, the author of the critical text explains how the title of the exhibition, Ho le montagne negli occhi, derives from a correspondence between Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer in which the former, to emphasize the importance of observing nature in the design process, said to the second: “You have the mountains of Rio in your eyes.” And in fact Matteo Negri’s works not only blend pictorial display and sculptural materiality – different materials are used: paper, graphite, aluminum, glass, PVC and dichroic film, which makes the surfaces even more sparkling and reflective – but also allusions of architectural type and impulses deriving from natural data. The artist himself admits to having created some works taking inspiration from experiences lived together with his family (Dedicato a Matilde, 2020 and San Primo a Ferragosto, 2020), translated, in some cases, from his own imagination (Dinner at Calori Basin, 2020 and In canoa sopra il Silverpit, 2020). This is how light and colors, closely connected to the intersections of the different floors, are translated according to the different sensations, ending up overflowing outside the confines of the work, onto the walls of the exhibition space. Rossella Farinotti told us about the developments that led to the creation of the project.

Antongiulio Vergine: Compared to previous production always belonging to Matteo Negri’s latest research, the titles of the works exhibited at MEB Arte Studio do not only present scientific expressions (I am thinking of the aforementioned Dedicato a Matilde). Has a greater intimate, daily dimension made its way?
Rossella Farinotti: Of course. Also considering the human and historical period that Negri has lived, like everyone else, from the lockdown onwards his production has undergone a process towards a more intimate reflection of the work. An artist with his approach, used to always working in different contexts, even external ones, or internal places full of history and elements of strong impact – and therefore creating works in relation to always different contexts – the idea of ​​working at home, where ideas took a different form, it certainly determined the production of some of the latest works that are in fact present in the exhibition.

The choice to intervene on the gallery windows compensates for any restrictions that may be decided in the future, given the possibility of enjoying part of the exhibition from the outside as well. Was this decision conceived in this sense?
The intervention on the windows was born first of all for the desire to change the interior space of the gallery. Given Matteo’s exhibition experience, which has many exhibitions behind him, we decided to intervene in the space in a different way compared to the previous exhibitions of MEB, and also of Negri: therefore to create a sort of colored kaleidoscope that reflected very broght light and colors (those of his latest production, with the same materials used for the works on the wall) also on the works on display, to change the perception of space. A colorful landscape that, consequently, was also visible from the outside and, as you write, usable even with the gallery closed.

Finally, why the (courageous) choice to inaugurate in this particular period?
Because artists never stop in their own production, ever. The exhibition was to be inaugurated at that time and, in compliance with the rules, the artist and gallery owner have continued in their intent. In fact, the exhibition was inaugurated online, therefore with a new interaction for us too.

Antongiulio Vergine

Info:

Matteo Negri. Ho le montagne negli occhi (I have mountains in my eyes)
MEB Arte Studio, via San Giovanni 26, Borgomanero (NO)
14 November 2020 – 25 January 2021
mebartestudio@gmail.com
www.mebartestudio.it
@mebartestudio