At the
PalazzoReale the works shown trace the artist's career, moreover they demonstratethe willingness of the Bolognese painter to experience the effects of theinteraction of the lumen, that is the name of the luminous material used byGaleano, with other materials. The exhibition begins with the experiments oflight that meet mostly issues of a scientific nature (galaxies) or primordialsubjects suspended between terrestrial and extraterrestrial worlds, but that inany case must always be interpreted (Epoxy). At this point it is possible totrace frequent raids in the way of understanding the art of the Roman Schooland residual color, because, as Galeano states "it is very difficult forthe painters to get away from the color, from day to night." At
Castel dell' Ovo, Galeano revives theancient legend of Virgil, according to which an egg was hidden in the dungeonsof the building by the Latin poet in ancient times. The
Enigma of Virgil, an installation almost three meters high, Galeanorappelled himself in the guise of a magician, he has created a huge egg oflight that gives to Neapolitans the opportunity to see with their own eyessomething that they only ever heard orally, so that the mystery can beunraveled.
Raimondo Galeano believes that
color does not exist, since it is contained and revealed by thelight. For this reason the painter decided to abandon the traditional temperapigments to replace them with special lighting that glow in the dark.Therefore, the lights of the rooms where the exhibition takes place will betotally turned off to allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of the exhibits. Thefinal effect is really amazing and sensational: play of light can be clearlydistinguished in the darkness of a place that does not seem to convey fear to theaudience, as usually happens, but light-heartedness, joy and positivity.Galeano is therefore the first painter that paints with the light, enclosed insmall jars and applicable to any type of material: wood, concrete and even thetypical cotton garments used for clothes. "The light gives shape andcolor. I give shape and color to the light", Galeano states, outlining oneof the fundamental principles of his unique
art.What must not be forgotten is the strong performativecomponent of Galeano's works Kids and adults will be able to interact with hispaintings through texts and graphics that will travel together at the speed oflight, and together with the light, to cosmic boundaries where it is possibleto leave a trace behind. In this regard, Galeano has created a canvas of nearly5x3 meters representing a spectacular Bay of Naples. In front of the paintingvisitors will be able to pose and bring along a photograph that portrays themsurrounded by a surreal atmosphere. The viewer is thus transformed into anactor/painter, who receives the opportunity to give free rein to his creativeflair and to become an integral part of the artwork as well.
The exhibition at thePalazzo Reale will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; on Saturdaysand Sundays from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. At Castel dell 'Ovo: weekdays from10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., on public holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The artistic career of Raymond Galeano started in Romein the early '70s, when the artist had the opportunity to work closely withsome of the protagonists of the famous 'School of Piazza del Popolo' MarioSchifano, Franco Angeli and Tano Festa Galeano represented a model, in anattempt to find a way to detach a personal and an original way of expression.It is not a coincidence that many of his works retake some recurring motifs ofthe paintings of his teachers and of his friends in Rome.
Since 2000 Galeano gained such a security that hecould get completely rid of the color.
At this point, the first paintings characterized bythe style that still differs Galeano from all the other artists in theinternational art scene started to be painted. Since the new millennium, hisworks assume a double reading: a 'day' version, much like a photonegative, anda 'night' version, which represents the optimal condition to make the best useof Galeano's works. Only in the dark in fact, the picture is free to shine inall its brightness showing its forms and its features. The richer set ofpictures painted since 2000 is called
CosmosSurfers, as Galeano gives the opportunity to any subject painted on thecanvas to travel at the speed of light in the vastness of the universe, thusestablishing a dialogue with the stars characterized by the magical flavor andfull of poetry. In Raimondo Galeano's paintings time does not exist, or tobetter say, it exists but it is constantly changing, like an impressionistmasterpiece. A single work can often include two different times of the day: morningand sunset.
BIOGRAPHYGaleano was born in Catanzaro on the 20th of February20 in 1948. Three years later his family moved to Bolonia, where they stilllive. His entry into the world of art took place in Rome in the 70s, during thelively artistic season of Italian Pop Art, best known as the School of People'sSquare. Despite the strong influence of his friends and colleagues MarioSchifano, Franco Angeli and Tano Festa, Galeano developed a very personal stylebased on the use of bright dusts that still enable new experimentations. Hisworks are make of a "by day" version, whose effect is similar to aphotonegative, and a "by night" version, whose images shine withtheir own light. For this reason, Galeano describes himself as an"enlightened painter." He has took part into many exhibitions inItaly and abroad as well, his works are in important collections. An importantexhibition at CIRCA Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa, must also bementioned. At the moment there is an ongoing exhibition at Spazio San Giorgioin Bolonia, where some symbols of the fantastic fand surreal film productionare converted into icons of light.
Scientific Committee of the exhibition:
Gregorio Angelini, Regional Director for Cultural Heritage andLandscape in Campania
Giorgio Cozzolino, Superintendent for Architectural, Landscape,Historical, Artistic and Ethno-anthropological Heritage of Naples
Cataldo Colella, Founder and President of Future Visions
Annibale and Marida Berlingieri, Collectors
Giorgio Fasol, Founder and President of Agi Verona
Piervittorio and Lidia Leopardi, Collectors
Manuela Valentini, art critic and curator
Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize
Organizers:
Ministry of Heritage andCulture and Tourism-Regional Directorate of Heritage
Cultural and LandscapeSuperintendent for BAPSAE Campania-Naples and its province, Visioni Future
Sponsorships: Basilicata Region, City of Naples-Department of Culture
Technicalsponsor: Alvarez construction, Ianus, Metropolitana di Napoli
VISIONI FUTUREVisioni Future was founded in 2009 in order to promotethe professional growth of artists in Italy and abroad, to raise publicawareness of contemporary art, combining exhibitions and didactics anddocumentation services on visual arts.
Visioni Future tries to:
·SpreadItalian artists in the contemporary art, encouraging their path of growth andcurators, critics and museums' interest;
·Promote the mobility of artists and support them in their search for funding;
·Expandthe audience interested in contemporary art through exhibitions, educationaltools and training.
