Maurizio Cattelan "Not Afraid of Love" Retrospective
Poster for Maurizio Cattelan's solo exhibition "Not Afraid of Love" at the Monnaie de Paris
Text/Photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang Location: Monnaie de Paris Time: October 2016 to August 1, 2017 Maurizio Cattelan (born 1960) is currently one of the most popular, elusive, and controversial Italian artists (though he does not necessarily identify as an artist), and is also a darling of the contemporary art market.
His dramatic vocabulary, which stops at nothing short of shocking, features visual impact images full of biting satire, rich imagination filled with black humor, mockery, and irony, and he is well-known for establishing environmental spatial installations.
Before turning to artistic creation, he held various jobs (such as cleaner, morgue attendant, carpenter, florist assistant, etc.), expanding his perspective on existence and life experience. While crafting wooden furniture, he tasted the pleasure of plastic arts.
Cattelan seized this opportunity to open up his new artistic world, embarking on the path of artistic creation.
With the more ample macro-perspective of an outsider from a non-traditional art academy background, he keenly observes and sharply criticizes the contemporary world, approaching mass issues such as religion, politics, culture, and media phenomena with a detached observational mindset.
He subverts conventional social concepts, shocks the heart, and challenges people's senses and consciousness, facing up to various problems of human existence.
This small retrospective exhibition of Maurizio Cattelan in Paris is titled "Not Afraid of Love." This theme comes from one of his humorous works from the millennium: draping a giant elephant with a white cloth, covering its body, leaving only the trunk and two eyes exposed.
Through the appropriation and transformation of ready-mades, it becomes a mysterious object. "Not Afraid of Love" seems to point to a cry of hope, embracing the unknown and confronting the fear that paralyzes humanity (predicament).
Indeed, the greatest energy existing in the universe is "love." In today's rapidly changing globalization and consumer society, the only thing that cannot be bought with money is "love." Love is not charity; love is a natural expression of humanity from deep consciousness.
Love soothes the heart and comforts society. Do not be afraid of love; only the inclusiveness and openness of "love" can lead humanity to a peaceful world. The artist said: "Humor is a form of communication, a way to overcome the barrier of shyness.
It is a smoke signal that allows conveying an important message; if I were to express it literally, the effect would be diminished. Irony often hides a momentary drama." "The art we see today is through pictures and reproductions.
Ultimately, locating a piece doesn't matter much; sooner or later, that thing will become interesting in our minds.
I am more interested in psychological imagery and in recalling works established in those specific places." (Note) Note - Referencing the exhibition brochure for Maurizio Cattelan's "Not Afraid of Love" Retrospective at the Monnaie de Paris.