Artist spotlight: Valentino Albini

Valentino Albini
Works (1987-2007)
By Gaspare Luigi Marcone

The art and the collages of Valentino Albini move between two opposite esthetic poles that the artist perfectly harmonizes in his personal figurative research, in one side there is the photographic realism otherwise iconic and in the other side the artistic transfiguration of both collage and manual work through which Albini works on fragments of contemporary reality. The artist works using images already published on fashion journal and news papers that he remixes according to his personal esthetic sensitivity. After this first step, Albini acts directly on this new imagine using chemical solvent, colors and acidic substances that can change and give a new meaning to the pictures according to his philosophy. In his work is evident the intention of modify and deteriorate the appearance of reality published in the news papers to produce an other reality almost utopist and symbolic(To the Front, 2006-2007; Strawberries and torment, 2006-2007). The reality of mass media are in between the true reality which is just appearance and the artistic reality elaborate and filtrated by Albini ( The Big brother, 2006-2007; Angels and devils don't fear revenge, 1987-2006)

This way of thinking the art is confirmed by the use of any kind of objects stocked on his art works following the aesthetic of the "avanguardistica" of the "object trouvee" In some of the works of mail art it is possible to find feather of gulls, leaves and other little objects which are typical of the places where the artist has produced and sent his post card. A thin criticism, mixed with dreams and illusions, is present in the raw contemporary reality that Albini feels and lives( The Nut's dream, 1988-2006).

His wide experience of more than ten years as photographer in the field of advertising and fashion permits to Albini the creation of works where colors and artistic composition are perfectly harmonized (The weight of this burden will save your sins, 2006); many of his collages treat social and political subjects (2 Agosto 1980, 2007). His mail art sent to other artists (Granada, 2007), critics and friends follows the ideas of his collages and at the same time trays to transmit and communicate in pure, direct and honest way his artistic style as Ray Johson has previously theorized. Many of Albinis works have been realized and elaborate during the course of the years; the artist has modified several time his works: it seems that he like to show the pragmatic course and metamorphic develop of his creativity and inspiration.

Translation edited by Silvia Ippolito

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