collages

The following works are from my exhibition dai marciapiedi italiani (from Italian footpaths). Selected works were shown at Gallery 25 Mildura (21 July – 31 August 2006). This exhibition was opened by Stefano de Pieri and included in the program of the Mildura Writers festival. The full exhibition was shown at Gallery 101 Melbourne (31 Oct – 25 Nov 2006).

dai marciapiedi italiani is an interplay between collected images and text from various sources. The text is used generally in an abstracted, graphic manner, but this is counterpoint to a subtle rendering of detailed snippets of stories and reports from newspapers, magazines and other sources, such as the historical Medici diaries from Florence. Street surfaces and outlet covers, collected through rubbings or frottage, not only provide graphic evidence of industrial histories, but also document the physicality of walking. Meaning is often ambiguous with the seemingly random layering and juxtaposition of compositional elements allowing for a range of interpretations. The works could also be viewed as time capsules, incorporating as they do all manner of information about life in these Italian cities: from Vivaldi and musical events to Dante and Petrarch; from electoral information to restaurant and Vespa advertisements.