Resilience by Diego Santanelli

Canale Diaz Art Center cordially invites you to the Opening Night of “Resilience” on April 08, 2016 from 7-10pm. The curated exhibition assembles the most recent paintings of Diego Santanelli, a renowned Italian artist. 

“Resilience” is an approximation of the pictorial and experiential universe of multidisciplinary artist Diego Santanelli. The curatorial concept is taken from the idea of “resilience,” understood to be the capacity of the human being to adapt to and conquer adversity, to grow emotionally, to create beauty out of darkness and pain, explained show curator Raisa Clavijo. 

For the last four years Santanelli has been developing a body of work that he calls “Apocalypse,” through which he has undertaken a voyage of self-discovery and self-knowledge. “Apocalypse” is understood by the artist as the search for the divine, for knowledge, for the truth about the universe through conscious observation and the exploration of one’s inner self. Santanelli takes as a referent the idea that St. John Apostol puts forth about the Apocalypse - a bumpy road that leads to a happy ending of emotional growth and empowerment.

The idea of “resilience” also establishes a correspondence of meanings with the technique developed by the artist. Santanelli challenges the pictorial material to undertake a “voyage” of exploration on the surface of the canvas. It should adapt itself, conquer obstacles, overcome the slants of the plane to which it is subjected; but it is also free to flow, to blend in different layers in order to create a weave rich in the textures and whimsical forms that structure his oeuvre.

On display until June 25, the exhibition will be open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm to those who would like to become acquainted to Santanelli's work. On the opening night, a vernissage will take place in the presence of the artist. “Resilience” is Santanelli's first solo show in the United States and is also possible thanks to the support of the Consulate General of Italy in Miami and Società Dante Alighieri, Miami.

Diego Santanelli (Naples, Italy, 1965) started his creative path at a very young age. A self-taught artist, his career has been based on explorations of several pictorial techniques. After working for decades as a physician, in 2008 he decided to entirely focus on his oeuvre. 

Since then, he has had over two dozen shows throughout Europe, the Middle East and the United States. His works are part of important institutional collections such as the Espace Pierre Cardin in Paris, the Mario Valentino Collection in Milan, the Maison Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise, the Museum of Modern Art in Dubrovnik, among many more public and private collections.