D'Oro D'Art
The Grand Voyage
The Grand Voyage: Three one-off books dissolving reality into a digital realm. From Solmi’s profound irony, originates characters that live in a double dimension; physically vivid brushstroke portraits and digital videos blending humor and contemplation. They navigate a computer generated universe disguised in costumes from different eras in one-minute loops reflecting mythology and contemporary culture. The unexpected takes the viewer on a journey where time, dimensions, and geography are lost only to be rediscovered.
THE GODDESS
THE WIZARD
THE WANDERER
The Goddess
The Goddess- magnificently disguised as Cleopatra - lives in a contemporary and unexpected place, where pop culture weaves together shining elements of past eras. This place is the perfect setting for an intricate interplay between modern icons and the original meaning of myth, revealing the confusing and continuous evolution of fame in the present.
The Goddess captures the vanity of women in popular culture.
Solmi creates a contemporary Goddess, her image carefully disguised to enhance her mythic allure. The backdrop, a stunning Byzantine mosaic, adds an unexpected layer of richness to the narrative. This unique choice sets the Goddess apart from the rest, underscoring the idea of an eternal presence in the modern era.
The animation invites viewers to delve into the complexity of the modern icons and their profound impact on modern imagination. The Goddess embodies the allure of living myths, a figure who transcends the boundaries of time and place.
It is a tribute to the ever-evolving nature of fame, where the line between reality and mythology blurs, and where iconic figures continue to shape our times.
The Wizard
Dressed in a 16 century nobleman costume, the Wizard rises to a state of deep connection with the ethereal through the rediscovery of spontaneity. The constant juxtaposition of complexity and intimacy as an emotional state interacting with the environment transport one into a surreal daily turmoil.
The Wizard exudes serenity in a metaphysical contemplation that takes this figure far beyond the real world.
The animation unfolds the Wizard positioned in a context far removed from the chaotic city. He is portrayed as a tranquil soul, immersed in a metaphysical realm. The backdrop, reminiscent of arcade and video game aesthetics, presents mountains that evoke a sense of otherworldly wonder.
The Wizard’s detachment from the physical world is palpable. In this transcendent space, he is free from the trappings of wealth and power, allowing him to engage in an intimate discourse with his faithful companion—a poodle dog.
Solmi's portrayal captures the essence of the Wizard as a man who, in moments of quietude, finds solace and contemplation in the metaphysical expanse that reveals a profound connection to the ethereal and the simplicity of companionship.
The Wanderer
Behind a medieval warrior's appearance, straight out of an early 20th century cinematographic film by Fritz Lang, The Wanderer journeys into a timeless dimension that projects itself into the future through 15th-century inspiration, revealing a personal perspective on the world. The blend of different eras and the constant use of ironic elements reveals the enigmatic sides of a visionary mind, where childlike wonder and adult introspection are inextricably intertwined.
The Wanderer begins with a poignant pose, reminiscent of Dürer's melancholic masterpieces, that unravels the enigmatic layers of the Wanderer, a visionary entrepreneur. Solmi delves into the depths of this figure revealing a unique perspective of the world.
When you open the book, the Wanderer’s inner world comes to life. We glimpse him as an introspective individual, a little boy trapped within the labyrinth of his own contemplation. With the pick-up of a toy rocket, the animation illuminates a hidden facet of his personality. It unveils the notion that the Wanderer, despite his towering achievements as an adult, retains a childlike wonder deep within. It is in these moments, when he engages with his "little boy toys," that we witness his spirit light up with an infectious enthusiasm. However, as the game unfolds and the Wanderer immerses himself in his playful reverie, a transformation occurs. The animation captures the fleeting nature of these moments, emphasizing that when the game falls, the Wanderer reverts to his serious, contemplative self.
The juxtaposition of childlike exuberance and adult introspection paints a vivid portrait of the complex individuality, offering a profound commentary on the inner workings of the visionary minds.
The Curators
D’ORO D’ART is curated by Barbara London and Valentino Catricalà, two important figures in the world of contemporary art.
Barbara London
Barbara London is a renowned curator and writer who has made significant contributions to the field of contemporary art. She is widely recognized for her work in new media and digital art. For many years, Barbara London served as the Curator in the Department of Media and Performance Art at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. During her time at MoMA, she organized numerous groundbreaking exhibitions that explored the intersections of art and technology. London is known for her support and promotion of video art and experimental media. She has been instrumental in bringing the work of emerging and established artists working with new media to wider audiences.
Valentino Catricalà
Valentino Catricalà is an Italian curator and art critic with a strong presence in the contemporary art scene. He has curated and organized exhibitions and cultural events on a global scale, focusing on the intersection of art, technology, and society. Catricalà has been involved in various art institutions and projects, both in Italy and internationally, contributing to the promotion and advancement of contemporary art. He is currently the curator of SODA Gallery in Manchester and lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University’.
Federico Solmi
Federico Solmi was born in Bologna, Italy in 1973. Since 1999 he has lived and worked in New York. Solmi’s work utilizes bright colors and a satirical aesthetic to portray a dystopian vision of our present-day society. His exhibitions often feature articulate installations composed of a variety of media including virtual reality experiences, video installation, painting, drawing, and sculpture. Solmi uses his art as a vehicle to stimulate a robust conversation with his audience, highlighting the contradictions and fallibilities that characterize our time.
By merging his paintings with game engine aesthetics, Solmi’s videos confront the audience with his own absurd rewriting of past and present, merging dark humor and sense of the grotesque with new technologies. He creates a carnivalesque virtual reality animated by computer script and motion capture performance rather than string.
In 2009, Solmi was awarded by the Guggenheim Foundation of New York with the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship in the category of Video & Audio.
Solmi’s work was included in the 100-year anniversary exhibition of The Phillips Collection, Seeing Differently, and in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s traveling exhibition, Outwin 2019: ‘American Portraiture Today,’ as well as the inaugural exhibition of the Ocean Flower Museum Island in Hainan Province, Danzhou, China.
In September 2024 Solmi’s upcoming solo show ‘The Great Farce’ is scheduled to open at the Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University. Past solo museum surveys include ‘Joie de Vivre’ (September 2022 - February 2023) at the Morris Museum in Morristown New Jersey, ‘The Grand Masquerade’ (2019) at theTarble Art Center in Charleston Illinois, and ‘American Circus’ (2016) at the Haifa Museum of Art in Israel.
His work has been included in several international Biennials, including Open Spaces: A Kansas City Arts Experience (2018), the Beijing Media Art Biennale (2016), Frankfurt B3 Biennial of the Moving image (2017- 2015), the First Shenzhen Animation Biennial in China (2013) the 54th Venice Biennial (2011) and the SITE Santa Fe Biennial in New Mexico (2010).
From 2016 to 2019 Federico Solmi was visiting Professor at Yale University School of Art, and Yale School of Drama, New Haven CT. Solmi was appointed guest critic at the Yale University School of Art for 2022.
Solmi is currently working on a new body of large scale mixed media drawings, investigating the new tycoons and influencers of our time.
In a world where art is perpetually redefined by the ever-evolving landscape of technology, D'ORO D'ART emerges to the seamless union of heritage and innovation. This groundbreaking project, forged at the intersection of artistic craftsmanship and cutting-edge video art, marks a new horizon of artistic expression.
Conceived by Salvatore Giorgio Dino, founder and CEO of D’ORO Collection, D'ORO D'ART challenges the essence of traditional bookmaking, weaving it together with the stimulating allure of video art. D'ORO D'ART is a truly unique creation: a physical book housing a work of video art that springs to life the moment the book's cover is opened. Each art-piece masterfully combines the tangible allure of a D’ORO book and the virtual enchantment of moving video imagery.
The project selected state-of-the-art software and hardware, including LCD screens and a unique playback system, all designed for durability and longevity. The video-sound file, a cornerstone of each artwork, remains an inseparable part, unmovable and unchangeable.
To curate this groundbreaking fusion, two eminent figures in the contemporary art world, Barbara London and Valentino Catricalà, are working on the project as curators since 2019. Their choice to launch the first project with the work of Dara Birnbaum, a true luminary in video art, pays homage to the dynamic history of video art and embraces the contemporary art world's hybrid nature.
Video art's roots extend to the late 1960s when artists worldwide began to use portable consumer electronics to breathe life into their creative visions. As technology advanced, so did video art's significance, shifting from the periphery to a central stage in the art world. In our modern era, technology is ubiquitous, shaping our daily lives and redefining how we interact with the world. It captivates us with its intimacy and yet simultaneously holds the power to distance us from reality.
Technology serves as the canvas upon which artists today navigate a complex and interconnected world. In an age where interdisciplinary practice is the norm, artists are free to choose the medium that best suits their creative vision. In 2023 D'ORO D'ART Project evolved, it opened its arms to embrace a new artist, ushering in a contemporary era of artistic and technological exploration: Federico Solmi. The new collaboration includes three series titled “The Grand Voyage” of three one-off books each.
The technology
A D’ORO D’ART artwork combines an integrated screen within the characteristic frame of a D’ORO Collection Book. The screen has been designed by technicians and engineers to create a magic experience and at the same time ensure great fidelity and durability to the artwork.
The presence of invisible sensors activates the video when the book opens. The video runs until the book closes again. Each artwork is a combination of art, video technology, golden and painting covers and frames. All these elements are beautifully merged together and it is impossible to take them apart.
This is why we define D'ORO D'ART a new sculpture form, something unique in its kind.