- Aug 25

Fabio Zanino (V. 2)

Fabio Zanino is a sculptor and printmaker who exhibits regularly and locally in the Turin, Italy area. His most recent exhibitions include Spazio Musa Gallery and double shows in the Paratissima curated exhibition program. Fabio has a loyal base of collectors which he now works with directly and his work has been featured multiple times on curated collections such as the Southern Charm and New This Week collections on Saatchi Art. He has been extensively published and remains internationally acclaimed through various publications which have critically written about him with features including Apartment Therapy, Bizarre Beyond Belief Magazine, Wide Walls, Ecosalon, and Recyclart. Fabio’s most recent publications include Quin, Quaderni di Interni, Number 61 and Cose di Casa Magazine.

The sculptures are known as Decostruzione which passes through a process of random object identification (objet trouvé), deconstruction, and assemblage. Fabio picks found objects he finds to be aesthetically pleasing such as road / warning signs and random material such as garbage made from metal. Fabio then recycles these objects, cuts them down into pieces, and orchestrates as well as curates them into polished, finished works of art. By reconstructing the objects he gives them a new identity and purpose conveying a sense of revealed reality and breaking them down into planes of surface and texture.

These slabs of iron, steel, and aluminum show crude slices of rust and grainy debris giving off a sense of the power of erosion. With a perception of masculine grit, these rough constructs convey the concept of the impact of time in regards to decay. Fabio creates refinement out of objects withering away from the impacts of water, heat, and light through the process of erosion. These corroded materials are reassembled in a way to show their natural coloring in patterned but unified formats, although some of the sculptures appear to be painted. In a way, Fabio could almost be regarded as a fluxus artist in a manner in which the process remains as or more important than the finished product. However, the finished surface of these sculptures give a testament to high contemporary aesthetics in regards to expertly crafted and consistent asymmetrical texture, form, and patterned surface.

Deconstruzione XCV - Totem (pictured above) remains one of Fabio’s most imposing sculptures. Similar to the form of ancient Mesoamerican sculptures or archaic Greek art, the powerful sculpture stands with a broad vertical base and three sets of ‘wingspans’. With rust integrating with blue tones, Deconstruzione XCV - Totem stands like a contemporary version of a religious or iconic symbol, representing a standard. A standard to what remains to be seen, perhaps a postmodern shrine worshiping humanity as a deity capable of creating any structure able to be imagined or desired.

Fabio Zanino creates fascinating eco-art of recycling, refurbishing, jury-rigging, and reconstructing everyday objects into priceless works of art. Although the sculptures are small to mid-sized in scale, their sandy, rough texture and polished form creates a sense of imposing, monumental stature. Although usually externally symmetrical, the inner and patterned forms within the sculptures tend to be asymmetrical creating a tension and schism communicating contemporary aesthetics with a sense of refined conflict. Fabio Zanino creates immortal art which communicates timeless qualities bridging both ancient and contemporary aesthetics.