Enrico Cazzaniga

Since 1997 Enrico Cazzaniga has been experimenting with the possibilities of a distinctive pictorial technique that reflects his interest in defining a visual universe that can be attained through progressive ‘subtraction’ of material and space. According to the artist, ‘removal’ is an act of cleansing, a sort of aesthetic ecology, also in a spiritual sense. Cazzaniga paints exclusively on canvases made from black moleskin, a cotton fabric commonly used in the clothing industry. In his hands the cloth is transformed into a film-like medium sensitive to his paintbrush, as  the artist works with a diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite, conventionally known as bleach, instead of using traditional paints. Cazzaniga constructs his realistic iconographies with only his careful modulation of this chemical reagent – except for in rare cases in which he highlights important elements of the image with water soluble coloured pencils. After sketching out the image on the moleskin, the artist begins lightening some areas in order to create highlights, leaving the rest of the fabric intact. The bleach, in various dilutions with water, blanches the corduroy where needed, leaving the parts of the image that are not illuminated in shadow. The artist “removes” material in order to introduce light. He leaves a historical trace of his last and inevitable gesture, because once his brush has touched the fabric, corrections cannot be made.

Enrico Cazzaniga

Born in Mariano Comense (Como) in 1966. Lives and works between Brianza -Italy - and Wiltshire – England

1989/90 -  Drawing course at FAR Ratti Foundation Como (awarded) 

1996 - “San Carlo Borromeo Prize “, Museum  of  Permanente  Milan  (awarded) 

2000 -  "Remove" solo exhibition curated by Flavio Arensi  MArte Gallery Carate B. Milan 

2002 -  “Remove to the street” solo exhibition texts by Antonella Fiori- Antonio Battaglia Gallery Milan

2003 -  “Giovanni Testori, a  portrait”  group exhibitions  - Palace Leone Da Perego  Legnano

2004 -  “Remove to the memory” solo exhibition texts by Alessandro Riva- Ex Church San Pietro in Atrio Como and  Antonio Battaglia Gallery  Milan

2005 - “Remove to the sleep” solo exhibition  texts by Alberto Zanchetta - Delle Battaglie Gallery  Brescia

2006 -  “Allarmi 2”  group exhibitions - curated by Ivan Quaroni – Caserma De Cristoforis   Como

"XXXVII  Vasto Prize"  curated by Alessandro Riva  Vasto  “Morlotti Prize" Imbersago (awarded)

“La Fenice Prize"  Venice (1° prize).

2007 -  "From Rauschenberg to Cazzaniga" tribute to Robert Rauschenberg, installation and performance Rauschenberg, Germany.

2008 - "Seek Refuge" curated by Marta Casati and Riccardo Lisi-  Camping  Venezia, Venice

"BAU AUS" work in progress traveling in shelters 

2009 - "FuoriStrada" – Offroad -  sculptural work for public  space

"WallStreet" installation for the XX° anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Fontana

Square Milan

2010 -"Sit-Com" performance of public art with F. Borella and F. Bellanca, Como.

2011 -  invited to the 54th Venice Biennale, Italy Pavilion - Milan and Turin curated by Vittorio Sgarbi.

2012 - "Up"  public art project,  in a street of Como

2013 - "Street Games" project / laboratory of public art, Primary School  'O.Marelli'  Cantù

"(Ri)Tratti stradali” – Street’s Portraits -   solo exhibition  curated by Italo Bergantini and Gianluca Marziani, Romberg Gallery Latina

“Boston - Como “ group exhibitions curated by Carolina Lio and James Hull – Ex Church San Pietro in Atrio Como  + “Take a-way” performance on a street of Como during the “Boston – Como”  Como

2014 – “UP at Meyer” workshop  at  Meyer Hospital for Children,  Florence

2015 – “Mondotondo” workshop and the Multi-Sensory Art Project with support from The Roche Court Educational Trust at Larkrise School and Mead School, Trowbridge  England

“White Horse Larius”  curated by Elena Isella  Gallery Sweet Gallery Outdoor,  Brughiera Briantea Como

“Reuse: Nutrition for Planet”  Museum of Wood  Riva 1920,  Cantù 

“FuoriStrada at MAC ” Museum of Contemporary Art    Lissone  Milan

2016 – “LXVII  Michetti  Prize ” : “ Oltre, nel cosmo, nell’incognito degli universi e dello spaziotempo della contemporaneità” curated  by  prof. Luciano Caramel,  MuMi  Michetti Museum  Francavilla al Mare (CH)

2016/2017 - “ArtBasel PlayList” with Fabrizio Bellanca, video interviews at Art Basel-List-Scope-Beyeler Foundation, Basel

2017 – “Polaroad Alphabet Street” solo exhibition  Mulino del Baggero, ECOfrazione di Baggero Como

2020 - “Ar(t)resti domiciliari Contagio leale” group exhibition The Art Company Como

Some of his works are part of the collection of the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany