Senza Titolo 2017

Curator: Corrado Zani's "Senza Titolo," created in 2017, employs acrylic paint in a style reminiscent of abstract expressionism. Editor: The initial impact is rather dramatic; the stark contrast and scale create a sense of brooding solitude, almost oppressive. The texture feels thick, worked. Curator: Indeed, the gestural quality of the paint application is quite evident. Note the dense layering of pigments—primarily blacks and whites, yet punctuated with blues and greens. This creates an ambiguous space. Are we observing a figure navigating an abyss? Or is it a comment on form? Editor: The physicality of the materials is paramount. I'm interested in the artist's process, the active engagement with the surface. The brushstrokes, almost violent in their application, convey an immediacy—you can feel the artist's hand at work, wrestling with the paint itself. It is labour intensive. Curator: Semiotically, the chiaroscuro contributes to this sensation. The human figure becomes a focal point due to its location along a light pathway that seems to emerge out of the darkness. There's a suggestion of narrative art as we analyze the form in contrast with its context. Editor: Narrative is an interesting concept. I wonder what narratives might emerge with knowledge of where Zani sourced his paints or whether recycled canvases form part of his method. Do these production practices help explain his engagement with social issues and figuration? Curator: That interpretation introduces an intriguing contextual layer to "Senza Titolo." Without concrete details, we remain tethered to speculation but with visual markers within the image to inform the nature of its contents. The interplay of light, darkness, the scale, the material textures. Editor: Absolutely. The exploration has underscored how material considerations inherently shape our understanding of form and the art making experience, providing diverse interpretations, of Zani’s painting. Curator: I agree; close readings like these remind us of how to draw out a great abundance from just what presents to us.