PAOLO SCIRP WORKS

- PAOLO SCIRPA ARTIST

Paolo Scirpa, born in Syracuse in 1934, is a Italian artist whose career has been marked by constant soul searching and a fervent passion for art. As a young man, he undertook artistic studies in Palermo and Catania, cultivating his passion and honing his skills. He frequented the Salzburg graphic workshops for a long time, where he had the opportunity to work in Johnny Friedlander's renowned studio, an experience that would greatly influence his artistic career.

The turning point in Paolo Scirpa's career took place in the 1960s when he moved to Milan, a city that would give shape to his artistic vision. Here, in 1965, he created the first works of the series "Sole", characterized by a lyrical expressionism moving towards a formal synthesis. However, it was in the 1970s that his work took a significant turn, moving from a two-dimensional iconography to a focus on light and space as immaterial and spectacular protagonists. This research results in the creation of the famous "Ludoscopes", three-dimensional works that challenge the perception of the real and the illusory through the use of mirrors and luminous tubes. For the artist, light becomes a means to represent not only the real aspect, but above all the idea of ​​infinity , an "ideal" light that particularly fascinates him. The artist skilfully uses the means at his disposal, such as neon and mirrors, to create suggestive hyperspaces-light, where the line between reality and illusion blurs.

His art is appreciated not only for its symbolic meaning, but also for the playful aspect as underlined by illustrious figures of the artistic panorama, such as Bruno Munari. In addition to his artistic research oriented towards light, Paolo Scirpa demonstrates a profound interest in social and ecological issues. In 1972, he made the work "Consumer megalopolis", an important denunciation against consumerism, which consists of an assembly of empty packages and discarded containers. These works testify to his sensitivity towards the problems of his time and reflect a social commitment in the medium of his artistic production.

Paolo Scirpa's fame extends far beyond the Italian borders. His works are exhibited in numerous international exhibitions and galleries, gaining the attention of scholars of art and science. He has participated in important cultural events, such as the Today's Big and Young Fair of Paris and the Rome Quadrennial. His Gigantic ludoscopes they have also been projected onto the buildings and monuments, creating fascinating perspective escapes into the urban landscape.

Among his most famous works are the mosaic "Mary Mother of the Church" in the Chapel of the International Mariapolis Center of Rocca di Papa, the monumental "San Bernardino sun" initially exhibited outside the Cathedral of Syracuse and the artistic cycle created for the parish church of Madonna del Divin Pianto in Cernusco sul Naviglio.

The greatness of Scirpa's art is recognized by important cultural institutions, including museums and private collections in Italy and abroad. His works are present in various museum collections, such as the Museum of the Twentieth Century, The Museum Ritter, and the Museum of Fine Arts. His influence on the contemporary art scene is significant, and his works are also used as sets and for theater and television shows. In addition to his career as an artist, Paolo Scirpa was also a lecturer at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, sharing his knowledge and passion with the new generations of artists. The life and work of Paolo Scirpa bear witness to an extraordinary artistic journey that is still evolving, characterized by a profound investigation of infinity and light, but also by a social commitment and a constant search for new artistic expressions.