Ninni Pagano (1969) - Rock sacro

Ninni Pagano was born in Catania. Always passionate about Wunderkammer and about everything nature offers in its beauty, this passion led him to study in the studio of master Antonio Sciacca, his teacher. It was 2011, and from that moment his artistic career began, propelling him to increasing prominence and earning the esteem of critics such as Aldo Albani, Roberta Filippi of the Orler Gallery, Philippe Daverio, and Daniele Radini Tedeschi. In 2016 his name appears in the prestigious American guide Guide Museums Galleries Artists. After taking part in two Triennials of contemporary art in Rome with his works published in Mondadori catalogs, in 2020 his name appears in the prestigious Atlas of Contemporary Art by De Agostini.
The work is an oil on canvas, signed and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity with the artist's logo, the artwork's characteristics, and the artist's signature at the bottom.
The colors of the painting may vary slightly from the photo due to camera settings and the display.
The artwork is carefully packed with bubble wrap and cardboard.

This work by Ninni Pagano, titled "Rock sacro", is a fascinating exercise in cultural and stylistic fusion. The artist creates a visual dialogue between the solemnity of ancestral traditions and the rebellious energy of contemporary pop culture.
Here is a detailed analysis of the main elements:
1. The Central Subject
At the center of the composition, the face of a woman with smooth skin dominates.
Ornaments: The figure wears a finely woven red headdress and, above all, a series of tribal rings and metal necklaces that visually elongate the neck, immediately recalling the traditions of certain African or Asian cultures (such as the Kayan or the Ndebele).
Expression: The gaze, proud and detached, lends the subject an aura of sacredness and ancient nobility.
2. The Pop Background
In the background, the piece shifts stylistically. The canvas is divided into four colored quadrants, a structure that clearly pays homage to Andy Warhol's Pop Art.
The icon: in every quadrant, the famous Rolling Stones' tongue logo appears. This universal symbol of rock music functions as a modern counterpoint to the woman's traditional adornments.
Chromatic Contrast: The vivid colors on the left side contrast with the dark tones of the right, creating a dynamism that runs through the entire work.
The title perfectly captures the content:
'Sacred': Represented by the female figure, guardian of an ancient, ritual, and timeless aesthetic.
"Rock": Represented by the iconic logo, a symbol of disruption, modernity, and mass culture.
The juxtaposition suggests that the icons of modern music have assumed, in today's society, an almost 'ritual' or iconographic value similar to that of religious or tribal symbols of the past.
According to Ninni Pagano, therefore, 'Sacred Rock': it plays on the contrast between the solemnity of the woman and the rebellious energy of rock 'n' roll.




Instagram:@ninnipagano