Marika Vicari & Jernej Forbici - NEGATED LANDSCAPE
While the world is facing a turning point and the main question addresses – in extremis – the protection of the environment, while scientists describe apocalyptic scenarios of what could happen if the thermal state increased of two degrees, two artists describe their idea of landscape. The project is devoted to Nature, above all it is a setup project to be explored and crossed. An enchanted wood which, through the rustle of its branches and the creaking of the leaves, tells us about ancient stories. Not a denounce, but a whispered memento. Since when he started to paint, Jernej Forbici has engaged the audience – through his powerful and doughy painting, soaked within ancient echoes – into the devastations caused by aluminium factories in Slovenia. However what still rules upon those huge, hypnotic canvases is a sense of grace and peace which materializes within the Renaissance backgrounds. The dialogue turns into a mournful chant through the delicate graphite works by Marika Vicari: multitudes of spare trees endlessly stretching, quiet fields covered by snow, vibrant branches plunged into moss scented breeze.
(Alessandra Redaelli)
"It will be like entering a different Nature, a landscape made of huge forms: a thin skin made of red soil, tangles and twines of plants and grass, leaves covering the ground, a powerful source of air and energy, maintaining freshness and softness, and one of light animating the two installations. The exhibition starts like a dialogue and a debate upon landscape, a land built, crossed and organized by mankind; then it freely develops, to discuss about environment and denounce, but mostly to focus the audience's attention upon normal – or alienating – situations, placing its bodies into an unknown relationship with Nature. Landscapes recalling the earth, cracks, forests, breaches…. Metamorphosis of space and time, of languages and of the realities defining them. LANDSKIP is an exhibition which considers landscape both as the evolution of modern life (already humanised, according to Jernej Forbici) and as pure Nature (the woods and trees by Marika Vicari), a fundamental resource for biodiversity and beauty. Land development, manipulation, destruction, mankind, landscape, biodiversity and climate, identity and the role of the forest: these are some of the primary topics of the exhibition. The two artists investigate both the ecological issue, the protagonist of their artistic research, and the changes occurred within the environment-earth, caused by our culture, civilization and history. Through their works, JERNEY FORBICI and MARIKA VICARI seek their own identity within landscape, meant as LANDSKIP, in its most ancient sense. Thus, beyond manipulation, deforestation and barbarity or the willingness of mankind itself…. Nature is the only resource able to regenerate and create life.
"Jernej Forbici and Marika Vicari"
Jernej Forbici biography
Jernej Forbici born in Maribor (Slovenia) in 1980. He completed a degree in painting (with honours) under Professor Carlo Di Raco, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, and then a Master's degree in visual and performing arts disciplines. From 1999 his work has been presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions in various European countries, in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and China. He has been invited to participate in the following Biennales: Hicetnunc, Pordenone (2003), IBCA, International Biennale of Contemporary Art in Prague, German pavilion (2005), Accade, 52nd Venice Biennale (2007), 54th Venice Biennale, Arsenale pavilion (2011). In 2009 the aforementioned Academy of Fine Arts in Venice dedicated a retrospective to Jernej Forbici at the Magazzini del Sale, curated by Carlo Di Raco. In 2011, after having published his first monograph and presented five retrospectives in Italy and Slovenia, he was invited to participate in the exhibition Il fuoco della natura in Trieste. In 2012 he was given a scholarship by the Slovenian Ministry of Culture and was invited to take up a residency in London, where he dedicated himself to the study of the English masters. From 2013 to 2018 he presented various projects in private galleries and public institutions in Italy and abroad (Venice, Varese, Milan, Latina, Piacenza, Montesarchio, Vienna, Maribor, and Luxembourg). In 2017 he made, among others, the project Before It Comes Next exhibited at the Romberg Gallery in Latina and in 2018 the project Welcome to the Final Show in Punto Sull’Arte Gallery in Varese and Ptuj City Gallery in Slovenia. His works play a central role in the art world at an international level, so much so that today they are present in many exhibitions, fairs, institutions and collections. Currently he lives and works between Strnišče (SI) and Vicenza (IT).
Marika Vicari biography
Marika Vicari born in 1979 in Vicenza. She lives and works in Creazzo, Vicenza. Graduated with Honours in Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice in 2003, graduated in 2005 in MFA, Design and Production of Visual Arts at the fDA, IUAV, Venice. Since 2000 she is active in numerous exhibitions in Europe, U.S.A, Mexico, Brazil, Canada and China. Working also as indipendent art curator, since 2008 she is Creative Director of ART STAYS Festival. Recent solo exhibition as artist are (selected) in 2018 Lo sguardo in cammino, Romberg arte contemporanea, Latina, Open studio Cite internationale des arts, Paris and group show in 2017 Future, Galleria l’Occhio, Venice; Magna carta, Galleria Punto sull’arte, Varese; Alpe Adria, Kro Art Contemporary, Vienna; DifferenteMente, Romberg, Latina; Field of vision, 15° Festival ART STAYS, Galerija Fo.Vi, Kidricevo.
