Art history associates the needle and thread with women's trade. For many centuries, women were bound to sewing, embroidery and weaving, and thus to textiles. Women produced the results of their artistic ideas in weaving and embroidery until the 20th century, before they were also allowed to attend art universities. Having arrived in the 21st century, contemporary artists are taking up the history of sewing women, transforming it in a striking way or questioning the position of women.
It is possible that there are few parallels between Antonella Zazzera's "armonici" and the story described, but the sculptures nevertheless convey a strong connection with the world of textiles. The superimposed, differently colored copper wires, in varying thicknesses, change into a form that appears to be interwoven or woven. Contrary to the actual material, the sculptures appear light, almost fragile.
The artist's use of copper as a material has a deep historical significance. Copper was one of the first metals that people used for processing. Alongside gold, silver and tin, copper could easily be used to make objects that were important for everyday use.
During the Copper Age, from the 5th millennium to the 3rd millennium BC, copper was used in an inflationary manner. But today's society is also hungry for the metal, whose properties include the problem-free conduction of electricity. The fact that Antonella Zazzera, the artist from Todi, Perugia, uses copper wire to create her sedimented sculptures refers to the material's rich history. Because the Italian appreciates history. Nevertheless, nature is at the forefront of her work, which Antonella Zazzera describes as instinctive; she sees her role models in Stone Age cave paintings. In addition to history and material, one element in particular takes center stage: light. Under the direction of Mauro Salvi, Antonella Zazzera has returned to certain values in art: concept, light, space. Her artistic works - painting, photography, sculpture - are based on the concept of the visual and sensitive archetype identified with being. Antonella Zazzera's current work is the result of a process that began with photography. She examined the photographic space for the central moment of light. Light supports and nourishes the sculptures, which have become a compact body, a form, in many superimpositions. Light absorbs and is reflected in the sculpture - the artist works with the dynamic between light and shadow, which constantly lends her sculptures new perspectives. With this method, Antonella Zazzera refers to an old master in Italian painting: Caravaggio. The momentary nature of the light and the chiaroscuro modeling particularly appeal to her. In general, the artist thinks much more about painting than sculpture during the working process. In her thoughts, she goes through the great masters of light, from Impressionism to the present day.
Moreover, space plays a striking role in relation to sculpture. The simple forms with which Antonella Zazzera works have no figurative counterpart. They are pure forms that are created in the process of superimposition and that refer to the space in which they are installed - either indoors as a standing sculpture or attached to the wall, or outdoors in the midst of nature, where not only the light but also nature itself can change parts of the sculpture. Federico Sardella says he can imagine the copper forms "also in the embrace of a tree". One of the most recent works for the outdoor area looks like a silk ribbon, the end of which has been rolled out on a water surface. The interaction between nature and sculpture plays a decisive role in the artist's oeuvre.
Like a thread, the copper wires can be found in the optical fabrics, which Antonella Zazzera calls "armonici", formed into bodies. Different colors and different thicknesses modify the harmonious creatures, as the sculptures are also called. The incidence of light makes them seem to come alive; together with the colors and the lines, they appear full of energy and harbor an almost moving tension.
Iridescent in color, the material shimmers between light and dark in the changes of light, giving the sculpture a certain charming shimmering effect. At the same time, the sculptures appear diaphanous.
- Text by Mag. Lucia Täubler
"armonici"
Skulpturen von Antonella Zazzera
Antonella Zazzera arbeitet und lebt in Todi, Perugia und wird in Italien von renommierten Galerien vertreten. Die Künstlerin hat an der Accademia di Belle Arti Pietro Vannucci in Perugia studiert und 1999 abgeschlossen. In Kooperation mit der Bozener Galerie Antonella Cattani stellt die Galerie Frey Wien die Arbeiten aus übereinander gelagertem Kupferdraht aus.
Feine Drähte, die wie gestrickt, gehäkelt oder geflochten wirken, ergeben ein großes Ganzes: eine stehende oder an der Wand hängende Skulptur.
Einwirkendes Licht und der umliegende Raum beziehen die Skulptur mit ein, erwidern ihre Anwesenheit und inkludieren sie in das dreidimensionale Gefüge. Das glänzende Metall reflektiert und absorbiert Licht. Das Material Kupfer verleiht den Skulpturen einen charmanten Schimmereffekt, der das Mineralische erkennen lässt. In diesem Sinne hebt Antonella Zazzera die Verhältnismäßigkeiten auf; unbeugsam starres Metall wirkt plötzlich weich und leicht formbar, die Oberfläche nicht glatt sondern wie in eine lange textile Stoffbahn aufgelöst. Oft entstehen an den Rändern spitzte Kanten, die den herkömmlichen Eigenschaften von Metall entsprechen, sie machen die Skulptur zu einem Objekt der Gegensätze, die trotz allem harmonisieren.
