Ninni Pagano (1969) - Incontri Onirici

Biography

Biography of Ninni Pagano

Born in Catania in 1969, Ninni Pagano initially embarked on scientific studies, a background that will influence the precision and structure of his future works. His approach to the world of art develops through studying in the studio of master Antonio Sciacca, with whom he shares a vision of art as a bridge between different eras.

The Poetics: "The Chamber of Wonders"
The search of Pagano is closely linked to the concept of Wunderkammer (Chamber of Wonders). His works are often conceived as mental spaces where they fuse:

Classicism and Pop: Elements of Greek and Renaissance statuary are reinterpreted with bold colors and contemporary symbolisms.
Alchemy and Philosophy: The artist explores the enigma of existence through dreamlike figures (such as his famous "Swan Women") and Hermetic references.
The Material: He uses blended powders to achieve a chromatic compactness that gives the canvases an almost sculptural dimension.

Milestones and Recognitions
Although his exhibition career took off around 2011, he quickly reached milestones of international significance:
Venice Biennale: He exhibited at the 56th edition (2015) within the exhibition "Grazie Italia" at the Guatemala Pavilion.
Rome Triennial: Participation in the 2014 Visual Arts Triennial Exhibition.
Publications: His work is included in Mondadori's Catalogo d'Arte Moderna (CAM) and in De Agostini's Atlas of Contemporary Art.

International Presence: His works have been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Altes Dampfbad Museum in Baden-Baden, Germany, and at Art Market Budapest.
In addition to being a painter and sculptor, Pagano is an expert connoisseur of antique art. This passion is reflected in the way he "recovers" the past, not to copy it, but to transform it into a grotesque and fascinating language that speaks of the contradictions of modern man.

Dream Encounters
Figurative Description

The work depicts a female figure with an unusually elongated neck and sharp, expressive facial features. She wears a two-tone swimming cap (white and red) and a thin-strap swimsuit. She is resting on a flat surface in the foreground, directly looking at the viewer with a penetrating and melancholic gaze. At her sides, suspended in a dark background devoid of spatial references, swim two red koi carp in bright orange hues, whose fluid and ethereal presence evokes an underwater environment or an entirely mental dimension.

Critical Analysis

Painting and Mannerism: The altered anatomical proportions — particularly the extremely long and slender neck — explicitly echo Mannerism (as in Parmigianino) and modern reinterpretations of Amedeo Modigliani, giving the figure an eerie and fragile elegance.
Symbolism and Surrealism: The fish suspended in the air/dark water function as symbols of the subconscious, thoughts or dreams that float around the subject's consciousness. The choice of pairing a vintage swimming cap with marine creatures reinforces the theme of immersion into one's inner world.
Light and Contrast: The painting technique shows soft chiaroscuro and an almost academic rendering of the epidermis, in strong chromatic contrast with the red/orange of the fish and the cap, guiding the viewer's eye across the surface of the work.

Instagram:@ninnipagano