The exhibition “Mario Milizia” was curated by Fantom for Marsèlleria Permanent Exhibition in Milan. The show presents two groups of works made by Mario Milizia over the past three years, plus two videos created especially for this show. The works are both the origin and consequence of two stories: Eyes Wide Open and Maxisequestro, which Milizia wrote respectively in 2012 and 2013.

From Eyes Wide Open the show presents six inks on canvas titled Ibiza Sunsets and Chinese Modernism, composed of six sculptures in wood and fiberglass. The video, created on the basis of the story, alternates images and descriptions of playful moments like a night in a club and restlessness like the unexplainable clear sightedness of Rothko when he committed suicide. Eyes Wide Open was spontaneously born after a period of work imbued with curiosity and boredom, highs and lows, seemingly senseless attempts.

The second work is inspired by a mysterious catalogue titled Catalogue d’une collection de tableaux de diverses écoles, spécialement des écoles italiennes (Catalogue of a Collection of Paintings of Various Schools, especially Italian Schools) which Fr. Marcello Massarenti, sub-almoner at the Pontifical Court, published in 1881.

In the story Maxisequestro, Milizia implies that the prelate was a sort of messy smuggler of artworks; the work presented in the show, an “unusual” picture gallery of 93 elements, is the imaginary reconstruction of this catalogue, a collection of 19th-century works, which Milizia made using a secret technique, and where he nonchalantly combines artists, styles, periods. Just like Fr. Marcello Massarenti.

The video-story Maxisequestro is inspired by legal news images regarding findings and illegal sales of archeological artifacts we see everyday in newspapers, on the Internet and in the news. Observing these spontaneous and naïve photos, often taken in a hurry directly in police offices, unleashes a reflection upon the misery of the truth and the magnificence of the fake.

Biography. Some of Mario Milizia most significant solo exhibitions have been held at Jousse Entreprise, Paris, 2001, 2003, 2009; at the Galerie Edward Mitterrand, Geneva, 2002; at Niitsu Art Forum, Niitsu, Japan, 2000; at Neon, Bologna, 1998; and Soundtrack Without Film, at Viafarini, Milan, 1996. He has also participated in various group shows, including: If I Was John Armleder, Geneve 2013, curated by Luca Cerizza, Playlist, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 2004, The World, Speak For Gallery, Tokyo and Jousse Entreprise, Paris, 2003; Design et Activisme, Speak For Gallery, Tokyo, 2001; Expander 1.0, curated by Pierre Bal Blanc and Laurent Godin, in collaboration with Blocnotes, Galerie Jousse Seguin, Paris, 1999; Seamless, curated by Luca Cerizza, De Appel Foundation, Amsterdam, 1998; Jingle Bells, curated by Uwe Schwarzer, Massimo De Carlo, Milan, 1997; Chi o che cosa a seconda dei casi, Neon, Bologna, 1997; Ne Dites Pas Non, curated by John Armleder, MAMCO, Geneva, 1997; 504, Zentrum für Kunst, Medien und Design, Braunschweig, 1997; Aperto ’97, Trevi Flash Art Museum, Trevi, 1997; 1° Premio Trevi Flash Art Museum, Trevi Flash Art Museum, Trevi, 1996. He has written novels, Eyes Wide Open (2012), Maxisequestro / Huge Seizure (2013).

Mario Milizia 
Marsèlleria Permanent Exhibition
via Paullo 12/A, Milan
From May 15th to June 13th 2014 
www.marselleria.org