Via Vincenzo Monti 32, 20123 Milano
Opening: Friday, January 10th, 2025 at 7:00 PM
WIZARD GALLERY is pleased to present a new exhibition titled: “Dialogue” featuring the works of artists Alfredo Ramirez (Caracas, 1957) and Gabriele di Matteo (Torre del Greco, 1957).
On the central wall, Family Portrait – an emblematic work by Gabriele Di Matteo – is displayed directly with Alfredo Ramirez’s drawings and sculpture Sister’s Dress. The aim is to create a connection between the two works: alongside the reflective element of the mirror, which reveals what stands before it, Ramirez’s sculpture introduces the element of glass and its transparency. Glass not only displays but also shapes – acting as a filter – fragments of reality, pieces of a body that is absent.
Ramirez’s sculpture Sister’s Dress takes the form of a glass dress, elevated and supported by thick copper seams. Fragility and monumentality converge in the harmonious, structured shapes of the garment, suggesting the presence of a body that is no longer there.
Gabriele Di Matteo's Family Portrait, inspired by Velázquez’s iconic Las Meninas, reflects on the themes of reproduction and authorship. The artist commissioned sixteen replicas of the painting, divided into sixteen panels, all painted by Neapolitan artists. While the replicas resemble the original, they are not identical, exploring the relationship between art, the market, and authorship. The work invites contemplation on the loss of aura and the commodification of art, allowing viewers to reconstruct the scene for themselves freely.
Alfredo Ramirez is a Venezuelan artist who trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Brera and Venice, where he studied with artists such as Emilio Vedova and Ennio Chiggio. Among his recognitions are a scholarship for PS1 at MoMA in New York and the Grand Prize at the Guayana Biennale. His works have been exhibited at major institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in California and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Caracas.
Gabriele Di Matteo is an Italian visual artist who lives and works between Naples and Milan. After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, he exhibited in 1985 with the show Evacuare Napoli, curated by Achille Bonito Oliva. He has participated in numerous exhibitions at major international institutions, including the MAM in Paris, the ZKM in Karlsruhe, and the Perez Museum in Miami.
