La Dolce
Vita
LA DOLCE VITA
curated by Ermanno Tedeschi
Liquid Art System | Capri
Via Vittorio Emanuele 56, Capri
From 6th July 2024, open every day from 10 am until midnight. Free entry.
Opening: Saturday 6th July, 6.30 pm
Saturday 6th July on Capri, at Franco Senesi’s Liquid Art System contemporary art gallery, sees the opening of a solo exhibition entitled “La Dolce Vita” by Carla Chiusano, curated by Ermanno Tedeschi. Five works represent the incredible imagination of the artist, whose every painting, with its bright colours and iconic settings, embodies the joie de vivre and creative energy that have always distinguished the island of Capri and inspired and enchanted her.
The subjects of the works in the exhibition are four quirky characters, Zac the rabbit, Billy the bear, Dart the horse and Gilda the hippo, who together set off to discover a new life outside their toy box, which represents a safe haven, a nest and a home. The theme of the paintings is the desire to be amazed again, to escape from the monotony of what we know, and to rediscover a ‘sweeter’ life – one that is carefree and light-hearted, but never shallow.
Starting with “Escape”, the work that shows the four characters still inside their toy box, the bright colours and the spontaneity that Carla Chiusano uses to portray them emerge immediately. The journey in search of true happiness begins with “Dolce Vita”, the escape from the boredom of the everyday towards the thrill of the unknown. Once they have successfully broken free, the lovable characters of “La Dolce Vita” are transported into the sunshine of the most celebrated island in the Gulf of Naples, and shown driving a vintage car, with the famous Faraglioni in the background.
All the paintings celebrate not only the soft toys, but also Capri’s most iconic locations, including the Piazzetta, or main square, depicted in “The Office”, or the marvellous Blue Grotto, reproduced with extreme precision and detail by Chiusano’s brush in “Nel blu dipinto di Blu”. The story of “La Dolce Vita’ ends with “Tragara”, a tribute to the island’s natural beauty and to all the artists who have fallen under the spell of this street, captivated by its lyricism. It is a road walked by poets, writers and painters and that still attracts and inspires the power of creative genius.
“Capri bewitched me and made me realise that beauty heals anything. A powerful, elegant rock – both ethereal and earthy – that emerges from the sea,” says Carla Chiusano. “I decided to portray my characters with a clear touch of irony in the most iconic places on Capri, which has always been the cradle of ‘La Dolce Vita’ and of real joy. The soft toys are my soul, a tribute to the courage to question oneself, to change and start over, to be nourished by beauty and spontaneity, by authentic and pure emotions and to enjoy life once more.
“Carla Chiusano is an all-round artist: curious, sensitive and observant. She has travelled the world, trying to capture a carefree spirit within herself and others. Her works are like the pages of a book. She uses her paintbrush like a writer uses a pen, to tell life stories with a touch of irony but also with insight. Her painting is never banal, it always has a clear meaning and a social purpose.
This is an artist who observes nature, human beings and their behaviour. As for many other artists, the island of Capri and, above all, Via Tragara were a kind of magnet for her, enchanting her with colours, light and scents, transforming her life into a maelstrom of joy that is never shallow, a happiness that is a fundamental state of being for ‘La Dolce Vita’.
Perhaps there is something magical about the atmosphere of those places that stirs creativity and inspiration. Art has the power to express deep emotions and to inspire those who look at it, but above all those who create it. Carla has found strength, energy, and joie de vivre that emerge vividly in her paintings on this enchanted island. They are real frescoes of a world that is part reality and part imagination. As Carla Chiusano herself says: This exhibition is my autobiography. Not a clean break with the past, but an evolution!”.”
Ermanno Tedeschi, curator
“We are delighted to welcome Carla Chiusano back to our gallery. We have already hosted her works in the past, but with “La Dolce Vita” Carla has exceeded all expectations, creating an exhibition that perfectly captures the spirit of the island and reflects the unique charm of our local area in every one of her works.”
Franco Senesi, CEO and Founder of Liquid Art System
