Giovanni Bonelli gallery is proud to present a solo show of Maurizio Cannavacciuolo. A selection of ten big works (up to two meters) realized in the last four years and a new series of works expressly realized will be displayed in the gallery space.

Surrounded by an esoteric aura Cannavacciuolo has always realized extremely complicated paintings where the background patterns are usually constituted by three, four or more overlapped levels of interpretations. His works have been labeled as Machines à penser or riddles. Their simplicity and immediacy is a surface trick: Cannavacciuolo’s works are hard to interpret and it takes a long time and patience to understand all references and quotations in them. References range from ancient Greek urn decorations to Egyptian low reliefs up to contemporary cartoons sketches. Some recurrent themes are bugs, frogs, human bodies like anatomy lessons, and the artist’s portrait. Irony is a very important element in Cannavacciuolo’s work and the artist fills his paintings with visual traps and inconsistent associations. The absurdity of some combinations between the patterns and some of the subjects contributes to realize a complex framework that the viewer must analyze. The faultless precision of the brush stroke amplifies the artworks appeal that fascinates the viewer.

The same day at PACK gallery (Milan) there will be the opening of “Three Large Black and White Paintings”, where Maurizio Cannavacciuolo will present two works of two meters high per three meters large and one work two per ten meters.

A catalogue will be realized by both galleries with a critical text by Maurizio Bonuomo. Maurizio Cannavacciuolo (Naples, 1954 - lives and works in Rome). Since the end of the ‘70s he exposed in many Museums and private galleries all around the world. A selection of exhibition includes: Sprovieri Progetti, London (2006-09); Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead (2005); Suzy Shammah, Milan (2004); Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston (2004-2016); Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Santiago de Chile (2003); Museu da Repubblica-Galeria Catete, Rio de Janeiro (2002); Franco Noero, Turin (2001); Galleria Cardi, Milan (2000), Gian Enzo Sperone, Rome (1993-97), Sperone Westwater, New York (1996).