GAETANO CUNSOLO
Since the beginning of his practice his interests have leaned towards architecture, public space and systems of production. His works, made by using different media such as photography, video, sculpture and drawings, have been always attempts to construct new narrations of public space and human behaviors. He always tried to deal with the possibility of capsizing our attitudes towards the spaces we live. It is a continuous re-planning of spaces, relationships, and the politics of things.
During the last two years of Cunsolo’s practice has been focused on the potential of architectural gesture. In the recent works the intent was to move the attention to all of the processes behind spontaneous architecture, or self-made construction. The field of research started from the waste from « official » construction processes, typically seen in industrial areas dedicated to mass production chains. All of these areas along the main cities are often overrun by shacks, gardens, chicken coops, small workshops, and crumbling uncertain structures. These structures are often made by laborers and small farmers, who in a sense built their own refuge and redefined their vital space. Unpredictable combinations of materials, instant answers to structural problems, and accidental solutions generate new methods of production and unknown architectural solutions. It is a sort of parallel productive world blooming from the emptiness, the waste, and the ruins of the sanctioned production process.
Selected solo shows
2017
Gaetano Cunsolo, curated by Theo-Mario Coppola, Primo Piano, Paris, FR.
Performance inside the program This is The End curated by Elena Magini, Museo Pecci, Prato, IT.
2016
Accidental Solutions, with Chiara Bettazzi, curated by Alessandro Gallicchio, NESXT Festival, Turin, IT.
In War / In Peace, curated by Pietro Gaglianò, Borgo del Ponte, Massa, IT.
2012
« Portfolio », curated by Pietro Gaglianò, EX3 Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea, Florence, IT.
2011
On the Ideology of Snow: Shifts (Part 1), with Jennifer Danos, Kiehle Gallery, St. Cloud, USA.
On the Ideology of Snow: Shifts (Part 2), with Jennifer Danos, Dressing Room, Minneapolis, USA.
Selected Group Shows
2017
The Great Learning, curated by Marco Scotini, Triennale di Milano, Milan, IT.
Sensibile Comune, curated by Ilaria Bussoni, Nicolas Martino and Cesare Pietroiusti, Gnam, Rome, IT.
2016
STUDI, open studio of the artist of SC17 and the fellows of Villa Romana Florence at Studio Corte17, Prato, IT.
TU35, talents under 35, second edition, Pecci Museum, Prato, IT.
Learning from Lascaux, curated by Fabio Carnaghi, Prehistory Museum Paolo Graziosi, Florence, IT.
Ambienta, curated by Giacomo Zaganelli, Roccamare, IT.
In-Memori, curated by Carles Marco and Paola L. Cioncolini, Ex Officine Metalmeccaniche, Montevarchi, IT.
2015
Vitrine, curated by Trial Version, Spela Zidar and Pietro Gaglianò, Officina Giovani, Talents Under 35 prima edizione, Museo Pecci, Prato, IT.
Florenz Contemporary, curated by Angelika Stepken, Berlin Italian Embassy, DE.
Walking On the Planet, curated by Pietro Gaglianò, Casa Masaccio, San Giovanni Valdarno, IT.
2014
FAM award exhbition at Officine Chiaramontane, Agrigento, IT.
Prato Sarajevo Art Invasion, residency exhibition Pecci Museum, Prato, IT.
Right Before I Was,curated by Lucia Giardino, FAIR, Florence, IT.
2013
Disumanesimi, curated by Marco Scotini, Biagiotti Progetto Arte, Florence, IT.
Madeinfilandia 2013,residency exhibition Pieve a Presciano, Arezzo, IT.
La Mala Educaciòn,curated by Pietro Gaglianò, Biagiotti Progetto Arte, Florence, IT.
2012
Dalla Memoria alla Materia,curated by Andris Brinkmanis, Quartiere Umanitaria, Milan, IT.
2011
The Wall (Archives) #1-#10, a project by Pietro Gaglianò, Florence, Rome, Bologna, Lecce, Santa Croce sull’Arno, Luxembourg, Cosenza, Cremona, Pergola, Milan.
The International, curated by Liv Taylor and Rosie Ashley, MCAD, Minneapolis, USA.
2010
Storie dai Margini, curated by Pietro Gaglianò, Teatro Studio Scandicci, Florence, IT.
Sul Disegnare, curated by Lorenzo Bruni, Via Nuova Gallery, Florence, IT.
Colors and Colori, curated by Angela Nocentini and Edoardo Malagigi, FAF, Florence, IT.
Residencies
2017
Live Work Performance Award, Centrale FIES, Trento, IT.
2016
Cantieri Aperti residency, Borgo del Ponte, Massa, IT.
2015
Walking on the Planet residency, Casa Masaccio, San Giovanni Valdarno, Florence, IT.
2013
Madeinfilandia 2013 residency, Pieve a Presciano, Arezzo,IT.
Scholarships & awards
2017
Live Work Performance Award, Centrale FIES, Trento, IT.
2011
Scholarship Spazio Elastico,NABA, MFA program, direction of Marco Scotini, Milan, IT.
2010
Scholarship Honor exchange, MCAD, Minneapolis, USA.
Publications
2017
Marco Scotini, The Great Learning, exhibition catalogue, MOUSSE, Milan
2016
Pietro Gaglianò, Memento The Obsession with the Visible, Postmedia Book, Milano (p.91).
2015
Pietro Gaglianò, Walking on the Planet, exhibition catalogue, Archiviazioni, Italy.
2013
Made in Filandia 2013, Gli Ori, Italy.
Pietro Gaglianò, La Mala Educaciòn, exhibition catalogue, Biagiotti Progetto Arte, Florence.
Disumanesimi, exhibition catalogue, Biagiotti Progetto Arte, Florence.
2011
Lorenzo Bruni, Made in Toscana, FLASH ART n° 292, Italy (pag 60).
2010
Pietro Gaglianò, Storie dai Margini, project catalogue, published by the Cultural Florence Council, Italy.
Teaching experience
2017
Professor of Mixed Media, Drawing and Sculpture, (2014 – present) Florence University of Arts, IT.
2012
Multimedia Technical Support, Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, IT.
Pomeriggi in Città, workshop, Fabbrica Europa, Florence, IT.
2010
I bambini costruiscono i Ponti, workshop, elementary school of Vibo Valentia, IT.
Teaching Assistant for Anatomy, (2009/2010), Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, IT.
Related work experience
2014
Head Assistant of Petrit Halilaj, Villa Romana, Florence, IT.
2013
Disobedience Archive, display assistant, curated by Marco Scotini, Castello di Rivoli, Turin, IT.
2012
Documenta 13 fellowship, art assistant of Ayreen Anastas and Rene Gabri, And And And…project, Kassel, DE.
2006/2009
Working in the molding and wax lab. at Art’ù foundry, Florence, IT.
2007
Scholarship Fantasy Fountain Fund, Inc, New York, USA.