Next Thursday on June 29th, BC Gallery will be presenting “Pretension of Greatness” a new solo exhibition by Argentinian artist Franco Fasoli, showing his latest collages and sculptures.
The enormous amount of motives, partially layered or squeezed in next to each other build up an extreme tension within the picture, catapulting the spectator right into a kind of obscure battlefield. This tension is not only defined by the density of motives but also by the semantics of materials, the technical thoroughness contrasting with the fragility of the paper. Additionally to the collage works, there also will be sculptures made of bronze and fabric. As a result the atmosphere is filled with contrasts and contradictions. Bronze, one of the highest rated materials concerning the material hierarchies in art is being forced into a fusion with fabric and is put through a sort of desacralisation process and yet results in an outcome that appears even stronger than each on its own.
Fasoli often relates his work thematically to his native country, Argentina. For this exhibition the influence of the historical alteration of his homeland, which did not only have to fight for independence, but also underwent many years of military dictatorships and has been kept in a perpetual state of change which in turn creates a very strong characteristic is clearly visible throughout all the artworks.
“Pretension of Greatness” opens on Thursday, June 29th, from 6 – 10 pm. The exhibition is open for public viewing through October 7th at the gallery located on Libauer Strasse 14, 10245 Berlin, Germany.
Franco Fasoli alias JAZ, who‘s career started as a graffiti writer in the streets of Buenos Aires in the mid 90‘s has, over the years, developed his designs from a letter based to a more complex and figurative style which is determined by his unique way of mixing colors. Inspired by his work in scenography, Fasoli started experimenting with several quite unusual materials such as asphaltic paint, petrol, tar and limewhich allowed him to create his very own technique for mural painting that results in a watercolor-like luminescent but transparent effect. Through motives like lucha-libre-style wrestling or hybrid creatures like minotaurs that many times occur mirrored or aspart of a mass he is dealing with Argentinian culture and the issues that come with it. Usually they are locked in combat and attest tometaphoric violence or the bipolarity of the human mind. This is also reflected in his new technique with paper collages. Being able to develop new techniques without losing the strong nature of his vision is what makes Franco Fasoli be respected and successful in the art scene.
Author: Fran
Founder and editor of Urbanite. Street Art lover who after the finishing her MA thesis on the Mexican and Norwegian muralist movement in the 1920-50s, developed a fascination for street art and graffiti that eventually led to collaborations with different art blogs, including the creation of this one.
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