Mimmo Paladino biography

- MIMMO PALADINO PAINTER

 

Mimmo Paladino is a renowned Italian painter, sculptor and engraver. Born in Paduli, near Benevento in 1948, he is considered one of the main exponents of the Italian Transavantgarde , an artistic movement that had its peak in the 1980s. The Transavantgarde, theorized and promoted by Achille Bonito Oliva, wanted to represent a return to painting after the conceptual experiments of the 70s.

From a young age, Mimmo Paladino was introduced to the world of art thanks to his paternal uncle, Salvatore, who was a painter. This aroused in him an early interest in art, which further developed during the years of attendance at the Liceo Artistico of Benevento and during visits to the Galleria di Lucio Amelio in Naples, where he met the painter Antonio Del Donno.

In 1964, together with Del Donno, he visited the Venice Biennale for the first time, becoming fascinated by American pop artists. In 1968, Mimmo Paladino held his first exhibition at the Galleria Carolina di Portici in Naples, where he was introduced by a young Achille Bonito Oliva. From that moment on, Bonito Oliva will accompany, as an art critic, Mimmo Paladino throughout his career, including his participation in the Transavantgarde.

Following the artistic trends of the time, dominated by a predominantly conceptual orientation, Mimmo Paladino became interested in photography and exhibited photographic works at the Galleria Nuovi Strumenti in Brescia.

In the 70s, after moving to Milan, Mimmo Paladino experienced the artistic fervor of the city, meditating on new directions that his work could have taken. It is in this period that he begins to explore painting and pictorial figuration, abandoning the predominantly conceptual approach. He began to exhibit in important group exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale in 1980, where Transavantgarde was officially presented.

His works, such as Gardens of Forking Paths and Flashing Light and a Door , were exhibited in several European cities, marking the beginning of his international success

Paladino's passion for drawing has evolved over the years into a great passion for engraving. He experimented with different techniques such as etching, aquatint, xylography and linocut, obtaining extraordinary results in this artistic field. He also made his first object book entitled EN DE RE in 1980, which marked a further development in his career.

In the 80s and 90s, Mimmo Paladino continues to explore new artistic directions and holds numerous solo and collective exhibitions around the world. He exhibits in important institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and creates monumental installations in public spaces.

His works, characterized by a combination of figurative and symbolic elements , have aroused great interest both nationally and internationally. Mimmo Paladino has also collaborated with the world of theatre, creating sets for various productions. His art has spanned various media, including painting, sculpture, printmaking and installations, displaying great versatility and creativity throughout his career.

Today, Mimmo Paladino's works are present in important international museums and are considered an integral part of the Italian contemporary artistic heritage.