Emilio Scanavino biography

Emilio Scanavino, born in Genoa in 1922, was a prominent Italian painter and sculptor in the international contemporary art scene. His life and artistic journey were characterized by a profound cultural duality, influenced by both his father's theosophy and his mother's fervent Catholic faith, the latter of which contributed to shaping the inner conflict reflected in the artist's works. From an early age, Emilio Scanavino showed a marked artistic aptitude, and his passion for art led him to enroll at the Liceo Artistico Nicolò Barabino in Genoa in 1938, where he had the opportunity to meet Professor Mario Calonghi, a figure of significant inspiration for his initial training."
In 1942, he exhibited his first works, characterized by landscapes and humble subjects, at the Salone Romano in Genoa, marking the beginning of his artistic career. In 1947, a trip to Paris marked a crucial moment in his stylistic evolution. During his stay in Paris, he met poets and artists, including Édouard Jaguer, Wols, and Camille Bryen. The influences of Parisian post-cubism merged with the lessons of Picasso and contemporary abstract experiences, giving rise to a personal style that would characterize his subsequent production.
Emilio Scanavino's artistic research further develops during the 1950s, culminating in works where the "knot" becomes the protagonist, a stylized sign that gives life to rhythmic narratives and evocative atmospheres. His painting becomes an expression of interiority with all its torments, conveying a sense of suspension in time and presences evoked in the shadow of the studio or in the nature of Calice Ligure, where the artist would later move his atelier.
The meeting with the art dealer Carlo Cardazzo in 1952 represents an important step in the artist's career, consolidating his role in international contemporary art and opening doors to new exhibition opportunities. Moreover, the friendship and working relationship with the dealer allow the artist to experiment and further explore the dialogue between painting, sculpture, and ceramics. Participation in the Venice Biennales and important awards contribute to consolidating Scanavino's fame both in Italy and abroad.
In 1963, however, a tragedy deeply affects Emilio Scanavino, the sudden death of Carlo Cardazzo, his friend and supporter. Despite this loss, the work of the art dealer is carried on by his brother, Renato Cardazzo, who helps to increase the artist's notoriety.
In the following years, Emilo Scanavino's artistic research moves towards a simplification of the sign, with geometric shapes and grids that foreshadow a reflection on the objectification of painting. During this period, the artist settles in his home in Calice Ligure, where other artists also settle, forming a small creative community around him.
In 1971, together with the sculptor Alik Cavaliere, he created the installation work "Homage to Latin America" on the occasion of the São Paulo Biennial in Brazil. The artwork, composed of panels painted with inserts of bronze, silver, and aluminum sculptures, was censored for its political content and later exhibited at the Museo della Permanente in Milan after a restoration artwork in 2003.
His artistic production throughout the 1970s is characterized by an increasing simplification of the sign, culminating in works with grids and geometric architectures. His painting continues to evolve, demonstrating a constant search and an intense exhibition activity both in Italy and abroad. Emilio Scanavino's artistic career ended in 1986 with his death in Milan. His artistic legacy and his ability to express human interiority with his distinctive "knot" sign remain today as testimonies of an eclectic and significant artist in the 20th-century art scene. His artwork, difficult to place in a specific movement, developed between informal abstraction, Abstract Expressionism, and the artistic research of figures like Hans Hartung and Georges Mathieu, leaving an indelible mark on the history of art."