Stefano Arienti
Stefano Arienti was born in Asola, in the province of Mantua, in 1961. Graduated in agriculture, he approached art under the guidance of Corrado Levi and made his debut in the mid-1980s at Brown Boveri (a former factory used as a meeting and experimentation with many young artists) in Milan, where he now lives and works.
By reworking "poor" and commonly used materials - among which paper, books and images taken from postcards, posters or photocopies, as well as polystyrene, plastic, plasticine, fabrics - Arienti creates works that amaze the viewer, invite him to reflect on the theme of "wonder" and encourage its participation, also through manipulation.
Among the numerous exhibitions in which he participated, we can mention the Venice Biennale (Aperto 1990, 1993); Istanbul Biennial (1992); Cocido y Crudo, Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid (1994); XII Quadrennial of Rome, 1996 (first prize); Made in Italy, Center d'Art Contemporain, Geneva; ICA, London (1997); Gwangju Biennial (2008). Among his most recent solo shows: MAXXI, Rome (2004); Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation, Turin (2005); Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston (2007); Querini Stampalia Foundation, Venice (2008); MAMbo (with Cesare Pietroiusti, 2008); Palazzo Ducale, Mantua (2009); Museion, Bolzano (with Massimo Bartolini, 2011).
