Luigi Ontani

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Luigi Ontani, 2017

Luigi Ontani (born November 24, 1943 in Grizzana Morandi ) near Vergato (a small village in the Apennines between Bologna and Florence) is an Italian artist who lives and works in Rome . Before that he lived in Bologna for a while .

life and work

Ontani's life is deliberately kept in the dark by himself. In many catalogs of his exhibitions even a date of birth is missing. Nothing is known about his artistic training either. Peter Weiermair calls him the “Self-Presenter of Myths” Weiermair continues to describe Ontani as an elegant, youthful-looking artist who appears as ageless Dorian Gray .

Accordingly, the artist is often his own model. He portrays himself z. B. even in roles that are well known from art history. His person gives up for his art, or his art consists of his person, his body.

At the center of his work is the artist himself as a poetic catalyst ..., Ontani has closed the gap between art and life for himself. The schism between being and action has disappeared. Ontani the dandy and eccentric, heir to the decadent symbolists, removes the aftertaste of immorality and egocentrism from the concept of narcissism by letting us participate in what he finds in himself, what he accepts and approves or has changed to meet his needs . (Quoted from Weiermair, translated by the author himself)

Any attempt to classify Ontani must fail because of its versatility and versatility. Film, photography, text, painting and sculpture as well as performances and handicrafts are his fields of activity.

Ontani stands alone in his artistic work, an assignment to schools or styles is practically impossible. One could call his work, which draws on various drawers in art history, from different epochs and cultures, almost eclectic, if it would not result in a total work of art in the sense of the 19th century. Luigi Ontani's art points beyond itself and includes its environment. The artist attaches great importance to the frame of his pictures and also - if possible - includes the space around it in his design. His Villa RomAmorR at Vergato as a work in progress takes on historical models such as the villas of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema , Franz von Stuck , Hans Makart , Franz von Lenbach , or Ludwig II. (Bavaria) .

The importance of Luigi Ontani lies in the unparalleled unity of person and work, a fascinating mix of opposites that makes work and person unique. Ontani can undoubtedly be called one of the most important contemporary Italian artists.

Solo exhibitions (selection)

  • 1980: Lucio Amelio , Naples
  • 1981: Massimo Minini, Milan
  • 1982: Galleria della Comune di Bologna, Bologna
  • 1983: Ball'occhi, The Kitchen, New York
  • 1984: Angelus Sapiens, Lace / Laica, Los Angeles
  • 1985: Jack Tilton, New York
  • 1986: Galleria dell'Oca, Rome
  • 1996: Frankfurter Kunstverein Steinernes Haus , Frankfurt am Main
  • 1996: Museum Villa Stuck , Munich
  • 2003: SMAK , Gent
  • 2007: Galleria Lorcan O'Neill, Rome
  • 2008: MAMBO, Museum of Modern Art, Bologna
  • 2009: Museo di Capodimonte , Naples
  • 2011: Galleria Lorcan O'Neill, Rome

Group exhibitions (selection)

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Self-Presenter of Myths in: Weiermair, Peter ed .: Luigi Ontani , Edition Stemmle, Kilchberg / Zurich 1996

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Ontani, Luigi
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian artist
DATE OF BIRTH November 24, 1943
PLACE OF BIRTH Grizzana Morandi