For HOT MESS, Salvatore Siciliano presents a graphite drawing. At first glance, the bodies within it appear to be grotesque and distorted, but a sustained observation reveals that it is the angles and poses of the figures which create this sense of visual ease.
Salvatore Siciliano’s work is a mix of drawing and painting with compositions strongly influenced by his embodied knowledge of dance and choreography. The stark contrast between the white of the paper and the intense darkness of the graphite creates a vibrant, erotic atmosphere, while the classical forms of the bodies therein draw the mind to religious paintings. Theatrical and raw, the scenes are tense and unstable, raising questions about who is earthly and who is heavenly, and the fine line between the two.
Salvatore Siciliano (b. 1989, Cosenza) pursued fine arts at Accademia di Brera in Milan, coupled with dance and choreography at Accademia Susanna Beltrami. During his studies in Milan he collaborated as a choreographer and visual artist with NABA Milano, Istituto Europeo di Design Milano and Ansaldo Space Fashion and Design. From 2012 he worked as a dancer throughout Europe and in 2015 founded Siciliano Contemporary Ballet (SCB) in Berlin. In 2020, the impact of COVID 19 saw him return to the roots of his work as a visual artist, leading him to exhibit with HOT MESS, Berlin (2021).
Graphite on paper
Dimensions variable