Artist Statement
Painting is my first love. An important, pure love. Starting from the spasmodic research of a concept with which I want to send a message to transmit my message is the base of my painting. The sculpture is my lover, my artistic betrayal to the painting. That voluptuous and sensual lover that gives me different emotions and that touches prohibited chords.
--Mario Loprete , Catanzaro 1968
Graduate at Accademia of Belle Arti, Catanzaro (ITALY)
Mario Loprete is an Italian artist who has distinguished himself in the contemporary art scene through innovative use of materials and a unique vision of urban art. His work lies at the crossroads of painting and sculpture, exploring themes of memory, identity, and urban transformation.
Loprete uses raw materials like cement and plaster to create works that evoke urban architectural structures. This choice is not only aesthetic but also conceptual: cement, with its hardness and permanence, becomes a symbol of collective and personal memory, fixing the traces of our urban existence over time. Plaster, on the other hand, with its fragility, represents the vulnerability and transience of human life and experiences.
One of the distinctive features of Loprete's work is his ability to transform everyday and banal objects into meaningful works of art. His pieces often incorporate elements of graffiti, echoing street art and the ephemeral messages that populate cities. However, through the artistic process, these messages are fixed and immortalized, creating a dialogue between the ephemeral and the permanent.
Loprete's works are imbued with a strong sense of nostalgia and reflection on the human condition. Through the use of mixed techniques, the artist creates textured and layered surfaces that invite the observer to reflect on the complexity of memory and identity. His sculptures, often representations of faces or partial bodies, emerge as contemporary archaeological relics, suggesting a personal and collective narrative.
In summary, Mario Loprete is an artist who, through his art, invites us to reflect on our urban existence, memory, and identity. His works, although seemingly simple in their materiality, are profoundly complex and rich in meaning, making him a significant figure in the contemporary art landscape.
On exhibit at Centennial Hills Library from February 13, 2025 through April 27, 2025
Monday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Tuesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Wednesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Friday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Sunday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
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