Paolo Cristianis wonderfully observed scenes of airports, hotel rooms and city streets all places of movement and transition present a tangible yet unpopulated world. Cristianis rich colors and detail are realistic with just enough heightening to create an inviting warmth, becoming attractive and relatable in a way that real hotel rooms seldom are. The viewer can easily imagine entering the space of a Cristiani painting, yet there are no protagonists in the work; there are rarely any figures in the frame, and the few who do appear are turned away, for all intents and purposes faceless. The human presence in these works lives in a half-empty water glass, or the ruffle of a bedspread that has been tossed aside just so.
Cristiani is equally adept with oil, acrylic and ink, in addition to practicing mixed media sculpture with wood, terracotta and cloth. Born in Milan, the artist remains based in northern Italy but travels frequently. His series Airport and Hotels aims to capture and fix the silence and the human movement within a virtual reality.
Exhibition Dates: December 20, 2012 January 12, 2013
Reception: Thursday, December 20, 2012, 6-8 pm
Gallery Location: 530 West 25th St, New York City
Gallery Hours: Tues Sat, 11a.m. – 6 p.m.
Event URL: http://www.agora-gallery.com/artistpage/Paolo_Cristiani.aspx