Z2O Galleria | Sara Zanin opens the new art season with the group show AbOrigine featuring works from artists Amy Cheung, Alessia De Montis, Tamara Repetto, Elisa Strinna and Anna Tuori.

The Latin expression Ab Origine - literally "from the origin" – becomes a metaphorical interpretation to analyze the researches of the exhibiting artists, who, despite being different, are all characterized by strong evocative power and great imaginative capacity. It is a backward route that attempts to explore perceptively, mentally and culturally the relationship between human and natural dimension, by tracing possible continuities, overlaps, dyscrasias.

The Korean artist Amy Cheung presents “Imagine Hero" (2013) which is the result of collaboration with the American psychologist Philip Zimbardo, creator of the legendary Stanford Prison Experiment, who also found Heroic Imagination Project (HIP) in 2010. HIP is a non-profit association that - through scientific approach and using social psychological strategies in research and education - try to develop a new concept of heroism intended as a daily exercise to encourage positive actions. In this way, HIP wants to overcome the human natural inclination that tends toward a passive observation of the surrounding events. "Imagine Hero" was created to contribute to the fundraising campaign promoted by HIP and the proceeds of the sale of the artwork will be entirely donated to HIP association. "Imagine Hero" is composed of a triptych showing the scans of the brain waves of both the artist and Prof. Zimbardo while they were imagining heroes: for the artist – a Chinese Hero, and for Prof Zimbardo an American Hero. In the central panel there is a combination of both brains while they were absorbed in the construction of an ideal Platonic Hero, understood as the positive essence of a new form of heroism. The engraving was made directly onto the wooden panels from the fMRI data yet the "active areas" of the heroic action in their thoughts were revealed to us through the artist and Prof. Zimbardo's blood, as they believed in the extreme case, heroes give their blood for the cause.

Alessia De Montis’ multimedia installation “Still Life: Seasons” (2007-2013) focuses on the study of changes in perceptual and emotional landscape. A series of alternating exposed and unexposed, unvoicedpolaroids, on which 'polavideo' are shown using projection mapping. Over time, the projection light generates an inevitable metamorphosis on each photo, establishing a profound correspondence between the faded visions of the exposed polaroids and the others, that remain unchanged, apparently neutral surfaces where one can metaphorically try to engrave memories, through the video.

Tamara Repetto presents the centerpiece of a new work that, like the previous ones, through a close bond between art and technology and a multi-sensory installationdimension seeks to immerse the viewer in a perceptual world triggering - as stated by the artist herself-moments of heightened awareness. The installation “Castanea” (2013) reflects on the fragile balance between human action and natural macro / micro cosmos, through a delicate and hypnotic swirl of fragments of chestnut, very common in the Piedmont woods (where the artist lives) and at risk of extinction due to the gall wasp, an external parasite that has spread in Italy because of the growing business of importing and sale of various plant materials.

Elisa Strinna presents previously unseen re-editions of two projects displayed in 2011 at the MACRO in Rome, the outcome of her artist stay 6ARTISTA, between Rome and Paris. Both in the video “The apple girl” (2011) and in “Variations on the Basket of Fruit” (2011), the artist creates narratives and, working on several registers, focuses on a few key elements to reflect upon distances and continuity between human culture and the natural dimension. “The apple girl” was inspired by the folktale collected and transcribed by Italo Calvino in his Italian Folktales (FavoleItaliane), modernizing characters and scenarios. The variations retrieves the style and iconography of the famous Caravaggio still life using contemporary materials. In both works the fruit- a natural element - assumes the role of narrative and symbolic vehicle to reflect on the change of customs, on the evolution of cultural history.

The pictorial research of the Finnish artist Anna Tuori belongs to a Romantic tradition that explores the resonances between nature and human inner world. Her works draft magical and mysterious landscapes where – even though there is not a horizon that sets the measure of all – the depth is given by broad brushstrokes and bright colors. Anna Tuori investigates the relationship between authentic and inauthentic, between reality and illusion, exploring possible rifts to find spaces of escape, personal utopias.

Amy Cheung (Hong-Kong, 1973) lives and works in Hong Kong. She earned a BA in history of art and fine art at Goldsmith's College and her MFA from the Slade School of Fine Art, University of London. Since graduation, she has initiated numerous city interventions and large-scale public art projects in the UK and abroad. Her work shows a compassionate response to the human condition in a poetic and political yet inconclusive manner. Cheung was named one of Beck's New Contemporaries in the UK and was awarded the UNESCO-Aschberg Prize awarded by the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture. She represented Hong Kong at the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007 and received the Outstanding Young Artist Award (Visual Arts) from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in the same year. In 2010, she was awarded a Lee Hysan Foundation Fellowship by the Asian Cultural Council.

Alessia De Montis : (Livorno, IT,1976) lives and works between Milan, Bologna and Rome. She sees Art as an open space, a global architecture that allows to translate her needs in images. Her works are multidisciplinary projects developed through the use of pictures, videos and installations. Many of her projects focus on the study of human beings, a research and introspection that investigates different aspects of Woman and Man, like "Odyssey Contemporary Art" (2000-2004) and "Combattere_Ridere_Pregare" (2005-2011). Her last two projects, WastedCulture (2009) and CaraMammeCaroPapà, (2010), also deal with social themes, culture and family. In 2007 she won the Premio Marconi for Electronic Art (Bologna).Amongherrecentexhibitions: Odissea contemporanea, (Madrid 2012); Dalla Parte Delle Donne Tra azione e partecipazione (Fotografia Europea, Reggio Emilia, 2012); Biennale di Videofotografia, Alessandria (2011); In corpo (BTF Art Gallery, Bologna, 2011); Short Video Art Show (Space A, Katmandu, 2011); FramesItalian Style in Contemporary Video Art (SilpakornUniversity, Bangkok, 2010); Stll A Live (Pomodoro Foundation, Milano, 2010); Alla Gloria Militar (Bratislava,2010);Colleziona 2010 (Forma, Milan, 2009); Lilith oltre il feminino sacro (Scuderie Aldobradini, Frascati, 2006).

Tamara Repetto (Genoa, IT, 1973) lives and works in Voltage (IT). She studied at the Art Institute Jona Ottolenghi of Acqui Terme and the school Art and Message Castello Sforzesco in Milan. Among the recent exhibitions include: Twenty for one (5 Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, ZurabTsereteli Art Gallery, Moscow, 2013); Talent Prize (Macro Pelanda Roma 2012); "Eleven moon landings possible" (CaZenobius Venice2012);Sguardisull’ Italia dall’immagine al suono contemporaneo (Foundation Giovanna Piras Asti 2012); Volta (New York2011); Inside Outside (Guidi& Schoen at Genoa2011); Ten Guidi& Schoen (Soap Opera Castello di Rivara Torino 2011); Condotti Cronoarmonici (Mario Mazzoligallery Berlin2010), Selection (Yvonne Artecontemporanea of Vicenza (2010); Senso-time artist residency curated by Valentina Tanni Voltage (AL, 2010). Among works permanently: Castello di Rivara (Turin), Museo Municipal Gallery of Alexandria, Alexandria City Library, Museum of the Enlightenment CasaleMonferrato.

Elisa Strinna (Padua, 1982). After graduating at Bologna Academy of Fine Arts, she completed her studies in Visual Arts at IUAV, Venice. Strinna’s work explores the way we structure our perception and our fields of knowledge. Starting from the sources, from residues of natural and human history, the artist examines them and originates different narratives. These narrations reveal innate “cultural” aspects of nature, defying ideas that tend to limit natural and cultural processes, and they also give back original interpretations of human history, against traditional ways of production of truth and knowledge. In 2013 she was invited to 5x52013Espai d´art contemporani de Castelló, Spain, and she won the sculpture section of the Premio Combat, Livorno. In 2012 she attended the Taipei Art Biennial in Taiwan, and she was also invited at Nature Addict Travelling Academy, Documenta, Kassel. In 2011 she won the 13th edition of Movin’up, award for the mobility of young Italian artists in the world. In 2010/2011 she was one of the six artists selected by Pastificio Cerere Foundation for 6ARTISTA, that is a stay of nine months between Paris and Rome. Strinna in 2010 partakes in the XVI advanced course in Visual Arts at Ratti Foundation (Como), with Hans Haacke as visiting professor. In 2009 she takes part in a workshop by artist Peter Friedl at Fondazione Spinola Banna, Poirino (TO). Between 2008 and 2009 she attended the residence program at Bevilacqua la Masa in Venice.

Anna Tuori (Helsinki, 1976) lives and works in Helsinki. She studied at Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts and took a number of courses at L'École Nationale Supérieure de Beaux-Arts in Paris too. In 2011, Anna. Tuori was chosen as Young Artist of the Year. Before that she had been a nominee for both the ArsFennica Award and the Carnegie Art Award. There are Tuori’s works in the collections of Tampere, Hämeenlinna and Turku Art Museum as well as at Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art and the Amos Anderson Art Museum in Helsinki. Among others Tuori’s works have been on display in numerous private and group exhibitions including NO.5 Kunsthall Bergen (Norway; 2009); TaidesalonkiHusa (Tampere, Finland; 2008; GalerieAnhava, Helsinki, 2006); Annorlundaverkligheter (KungligaAkademienför de friakonsterna, Stockholm, 2009); Ihmisenjälkiä (Oulu Art Museum, Finland, 2009); Värähtelyä (Vääksy, Finland; 2009); Klassikoitajauuttataidetta (Sara Hildén Art Museum, Tampere, Finland, 2009); Carnegie art Award (Osl, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Stockholm and London, 2007-2009); The Third Beijing Art Biennial (2008); Mänttä art Festival , Finland (2008); Maanasema / La Position de la Terre (CRAC Alsace, 2008); Kokoelmienkesä (Sara Hildén Art Museum, Tampere, Finland 2008); ArsFennica: Finnish Art Now, Scandinavia House (New York, 2008); ArsFennica, Finnish Embassy, (Washington DC, 2007); Zoo (GalerieAnhava, Helsinki, 2007). In summer 2012 Anna Tuori’s paintings were shown at the Russian Academy of Arts, in an exhibition co-ordinated by the Finnish Institute in St Petersburg. During September and October 2012, Anna Tuori produced a solo show at the Galerie Suzanne Tarasieve in Paris. annatuori.blogspot.it

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