HOWTAN RE
HOWTAN RE curated by Barbara Martusciello
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large video wall on which 14 sculptures are on show, the heart of the exhibition, in dialogue with a neon sign. The entire setting of this solo show has a spiritual and ethical character, based on a concept
that expresses harmony and pacification, and is aimed at bringing humanity back to center stage. In the light of the disquieting global political scenario, of the degeneration of contemporary man, of religions being used once again to justify hate and discord, the gesture of an artist, born in Persia, trained in Europe and the United States, stands out more vividly. It is no coincidence, in fact, that the sculptures have the features of Christ who, in the original background of Howtan Re, represents the Prophet. In this work the artist, who chose to live in Italy, uses one of the most recognisable and ubiquitous icons of Western culture. Accordingly, Howtan makes it an emblem of a belief that crosses the boundaries of religious denominations to become a symbol of sharing and conciliation. Howtan Re's sculptures show a Christ who harmoniously blends masculine and feminine elements, a human yet perfect figure; every Christ is different, every Christ has a crown of thorns and performs his extreme act of sacrifice against all forms of injustice and discrimination. Making a creative and poetic, ironic and provocative choice, the author performs a detailed analysis that is necessary for him and, as usual, is based on the relationship between personal and social values, which summarises the imperatives of his artistic narrative. There are 14 sculptures, like the 14 Stations of the Cross, which, in dialogue with an emblematic inscription, disclose a reversed call for help: it is Christ who demands man's support in order to preserve his message. This work is a reflection on the loss of humanity and spirituality, whether secular or religious.
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na grande parete-schermo appositamente allestita con una serie di sculture-teste, cuore della mostra, dialoga idealmente con una scritta al neon in sala. Una performance, attraverso il sound e un
coup de théâtre, crea – il giorno dell’inaugurazione e in momenti dedicati durante il corso dell’esposizione – un’atmosfera se possibile ancora più commovente e mistica. Tutta l’ambientazione del Solo Show ha questo carattere e se ne percepisce palpabilmente l’intenzione. V’è tensione spirituale ed etica basata su una concettual-
LA SALVEZZA E IL FUTURO SONO NELLE NOSTRE MANI…
ità che esprime concordia, pacificazione e che intende riportare al centro l’umanità. Alla luce delle agitazioni politiche e religiose che pesano ovunque nel mondo, di una situazione globale sempre più imbarbarita, il gesto di un artista, nato in Persia (Teheran, 1974), educatosi internazionalmente, in Europa e negli Stati Uniti, quindi con una formazione multiculturale, appare ancora più forte. Non è un caso, infatti, che le sculture intorno alle quali si
è costruita la mostra, abbiano le fattezze di Cristo, che nella storia d’origine di Howtan Re è un Profeta; l’artista, ormai italiano d’adozione, qui inevitabilmente assorbe quella figura-chiave che è presente ovunque anche e soprattutto nell’arte visiva, di cui il Belpaese è pieno – chiese; mosaici; affreschi; statuaria, dipinti su tavola o tela e in tante diverse rappresentazioni –, e a Roma in special modo; così, inevitabilmente, egli ne fa una bandiera del credere che supera pertinenze di esclusività della Fede per diventare vessillo di condivisione molteplice e di conciliazione: su tutti i piani possibili. Le sculture di Howtan Re presentano tale Cristo con un volto che sembra unire maschile e femminile, quindi idealizzato; ogni Cristo, diverso seppure con una similitudine di base, ha le sue spine: vere, acuminate, della Gleditsia
triacanthos, la spinacristi che nei Vangeli si dice usata durante la Passione di Gesù; sono le sue corone, dolorose e innalzate nel tempo a simbolo regale superiore, mistico. Questi Cristi sono calati nel nostro tempo, con segni – piercing, orecchini – che contraddistinguono un’appartenenza generazionale più attuale e libertaria. Sono raffigurative presenze che incarnano una ricerca profonda anche sulle questioni di genere rappresentate da preferenze cromatiche miste e precise: afferenti all’ambito arcobaleno. Praticando una scelta creativa e poetica ironica e provocatoria, l’autore, come sempre fa, dettaglia un’analisi per lui necessaria e sempre basata sul rapporto tra Vita e Arte in cui sono riassunte le impellenze del presente e del futuro. Così, 14 Cristi, come le 14 Stazioni della Via Crucis, e una scritta emblematica – Save me! –palesano una richiesta di aiuto ribaltata: stavolta è Cristo a reclamare sostegno all’Uomo per salvaguardare la sua immagine e il suo messaggio che sempre più sembrano inascoltati, persino deteriorati in una contemporaneità costantemente più superficiale, materialista, lontana dalla Bellezza intesa come aderenza tra forma e contenuto. Attraverso l’arte arriva questa istanza che è una empatica riflessione su quanto della spiritualità – laica o religiosa che sia – e dell’umanità si è perso e si sta perdendo; senza moralismo, l’artista, semplicemente, si mostra e propone un punto di osservazione problematico sulle cose del Mondo, sia esso sensibile che intangibile. Se ci guardiamo tutti più intensamente, onorevolmente e amorevolmente tra noi, senza preconcetti e maschere, sembra quasi possibile una salvezza personale e collettiva e un futuro da ripensare meglio: l’arte di Howtan non sciorina messaggi in tal senso ma pone il problema, ingenera dubbi e apre scenari da immaginare in modo non più distopico ma come utopia realizzabile. Di tutti i colori possibili.
Barbara Martusciello
Howtan Re TEHRAN, 1974
Artist and photographer Howtan Re was born in Tehran in 1974. In 1979 Howtan and his two brothers arrived in Italy after the fall of the Shah. Since 1986 he has lived between Italy and the United States. He currently resides in London. Having already built a reputation as an interior designer and an architect, he became interested in photography as a child. He had never considered the idea of becoming an artist until he met professor Achille Bonito Oliva in 2003, who encouraged him to organise his first solo exhibition. In 2004 Howtan presented the series "Hell & Paradise� at the Contarte Gallery. Achille Bonito Oliva was fascinated with Howtan's art and wrote the preface to the catalogue (printed in 30,000 copies). In September 2004 the exhibition "Hell & Paradise" was organised at the Stella Art Gallery in Moscow (currently known as SAF Museum). On that occasion, Howtan was contacted by the Museum of Contemporary Art of St. Petersburg, which later hosted his works.
2004 - Rome, Italy - "HELL & PARADISE" Contarte Gallery: 18 works on display, all previously purchased by the Gallery in two runs. Achille Bonito Oliva edits the preface of the catalogue printed in 30,000 copies. FAO: the United Nations agency asks Howtan to take part in a shooting to produce materials for a photography exhibition entitled "The Three Worlds".
2004 - Moscow, Russia Stella Art Gallery (currently known as Stella Art Foundation) Before the exhibition, the Gallery presents Howtan at the Moscow Art Fair (May 25-30, 2004). On that occasion, Howtan was contacted by the Museum of Contemporary Art in St. Petersburg to host his works.
2005 - Miami, Florida - "LIGHT ON HELL & PARADISE" Virginia Miller Art Space version of the shots of the exhibition in Rome on light box support. Virginia Miller herself presents him at Palm Beach 3 Art Fair as a solo artist. A well-known art collector named Javier Lumbreras (Artemundi & Company Exclusive Art Collections), who had previously worked with Christie's and Sotheby’s, buys 27 works as an investment. Through Lumbreras, the Bass Museum of Art in Miami receives a work by Howtan as a donation for its permanent collection. The trade press writes about the artist. In addition to articles published in Art in America and Art News in the month of May, NY Art Magazine devotes to him the cover of the issue and a long interview with images of his works. The Edition is distributed at the Art Basel International Fair, defined by the NY Times as "The Olympics of the Art World" and by Le Monde as "The Best Fair in the World" with over 60,000 visitors and 2,500 artists being represented.
2010 Howtan develops a first photography project called "GREEN" devoted to the relationship between Man and Nature. At the same time, he comes up with the idea of the "GIANT ALPHABET”, an installation that explores the themes of recycling and environmental sustainability.
2011 - Rome, Italy Howtan produces a series of works made from recycled materials to support the environmental cause, by donating three of his works to the First National Forum on Waste Recycling and Renewables. (Ecomunica)
2012 - Rome, Italy Howtan wins the call for proposals issued by Italy’s Ministry of Tourism. The installation entitled "UNITED" will be placed on permanent display at the main entrance of the Prime Minister’s Office. "Honouring The Women”: a project that aims at disseminating the culture of respect for women. Howtan donates twelve of his works to reward celebrities from the national and international business, cultural and scientific spheres, including Andrea Bocelli and Anna La Rosa.
2013 - Rome, Italy "H3 HOWTAN HEADS HUNTER COLLECTIONS"
2013 - Melbourne, Australia "H3 Howtan Heads Hunter Collections, on show at the Melbourne Royal House and at the Italian Cultural Institute.
2015 - Milan, Italy - EXPO 2015 - PATCH FOR FUTURE Patch for Future is an initiative stemming from an idea of Italian-Persian artist Howtan Re, promoted by ‘Symbola - Fondazione per le qualità italiane’, in cooperation with KIP International School and Italy’s Ministry of Education, University and Research. Patch for Future was also sponsored by EXPO Milan 2015 and the Ministry of the Environment.
2018 - Rome, Italy - Howtan Re "Solo Show" 2019 - Rome, Italy - “SAVE ME !” 2020 - Avila, Spain The New Museum of Contemporary Art in Arevalo will host the Lumbreras Foundation’s collection, including three works by Howtan, that will be permanently exhibited.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2011 - Italian Cultural Institute - Los Angeles, USA 2011 - Italian Cultural Institute - New York, USA 2012 - “RICICLARTE” - San Sisto Orange Tree Garden - Rome, Italy 2013 - Italian Embassy - Washington, USA 2014 - Howtan Space, GREEN - Rome - Italy
LE OPERE
Save Me 1 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 2 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 3 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 4 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 5 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 6 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 7 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 8 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 9 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 10 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 11 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 12 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 13 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
Save Me 14 tecnica: gesso, polistirolo, plastica, acrilico, legno e metallo technique: chalk, polystyrene, plastic, acrylic, wood and metal misura: altezza 33 cm | misure: 33 cm high
www.howtanre.com
www.howtanre.com
Finished printing on December 2019 photo by Raffaele Marino @ramarino