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.