EXHIBITION REVIEW
ROME INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2024 – 12TH EDITION
December 06 – 19, 2024
ITSLIQUID Art Space – Rome

ITSLIQUID Group is pleased to announce the great success of the 12th edition of ROME INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2024, an international exhibition of photography, painting, video art, installation/sculpture and performance art, which took place in Rome, at ITSLIQUID Art Space – Rome from December 06 to December 19, 2024.

Click here to read more about the press release
Click here to see the photo full reportage

The 12th edition of ROME INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR represented a forum for the direct exchange of ideas and contacts between collectors, artists, photographers, designers and art professionals, and provided a unique opportunity for artists and exhibitors to present their works to an international audience of art professionals seeking to acquire, publish and encourage the best talents in contemporary art. The exhibition analysed the body-space relationship and the hybridization between identities and cultural/physical/social/urban contexts in contemporary times, through two main sections: MIXING IDENTITIES and FUTURE LANDSCAPES.

MIXING IDENTITIES analyzed the hidden parts of our identities and their infinite modes of expression, through an immersive experience in the fascinating universe of the labyrinths of our consciousness. While FUTURE LANDSCAPES focused primarily on the concept of boundaries and structures between body, mind and soul, human identity and the city, space and ground, transforming surfaces into an open flow of pure ideas.

On this occasion, we were delighted to present Frank Mann‘s solo exhibition, Oculus. The series of large canvases exhibited takes its title from the Latin for “eye” and it stands out for its research on vision and its core mechanisms: the artist deeply delves into the exploration of what visual painting is, resulting, in Mann’s case, in the creation of pieces which showcase an overlapping, clashing, and mixing of colours, in fact of bands of warm as well as saturated colors. Mann’solo exhibition invites viewers to get caught in the magic of artistic vision and ponder over what seeing – rather than looking – is.

Speaking of warm colors and vision, the work of the Mexican photographer Fernanda Lazcano speaks volumes: her shots point to realism but with an unexpected twist, where the main subject is shown yet hidden within the edges of the work so that one’s eye has to complete the picture and call into action visitors themselves. A different vibe emerges from Sherihan Khalil‘s tryptic: inspired by Pleistocene cave art – the first of which Khalil visited in Shanidar, Iraq, in 2010, Khalil’s work on display showcases how energetic dialogues combine with her inspirations. Her works are sonic representations of music across eras and leave the markings up to the observer’s discretion to meaning-make.

The vision theme is a source of inspiration for Swedish artist Sabrina Tafuro. Her piece is meaningfully entitled “See Through” to highlight the need to go through the material consistency of the canvas and explore the hidden dimensions beyond concrete reality. The mix of techniques creates such contrasting sensations: dripping, glazing, velatura as well as “a corpo” painting; all contribute to the overall effect, which is one of a constant as well as wandering in, through, and beyond the physical edges of the work itself. Armine Batikyan from Armenia presents a surreal piece of artwork depicting as well as conveying a state of dilemma through the exquisite juxtaposition of objects conveying a sense of doubt and uncertainty: within the universe depicted in such a world, a choice had to be made between opposing alternatives.

The exhibition hosts pieces by several international photographers whose works are defined by an exploration of visual mechanisms, starting from Marita Tselekidi. The Greek artist chooses to depict a nocturnal scene where the foreground rapidly expands toward the middle and background: the attention of those who stare at her picture is captured by the spots of light which, like stars on a night sky, makes viewers travel with their imagination. Always in tune with other participating artists, the works by Cristiana Bezerra de Menezes Signorelli from Italy are all about visualizing new dimensions. The three images on display at the Rome International Art Fair were part of a larger series, “Absurd Sculptures”, which was born as a visual exploration that intertwined surrealist themes with the philosophical concepts of the Absurd. The project itself sought to carve out new meanings, highlighting the tension between our yearning for intrinsic values and the elusive nature of existence.

Italian Photographer Focsina‘s works, a series of three pictures, draw visitors towards new dimensions beyond the earthly reality. One invariably got a sense of floating and drifting away when staring at her pictures, as if a new divine perspective unveiled itself all of a sudden. The golden light the artist employs as the main means to shape the images served as quite an outstanding shower of divine presence. Another journey towards unexplored lands is the one provided by the photographer India Blake Johnson: just a slight hint of human presence is enough in the photographs showcased during the exhibition. The true protagonists of the depicted scenes are wide spaces and the snapshots capture and are aimed at conveying the sense of vastness and owe the sight of unfamiliar landscapes cannot but trigger.

Last but not least, the sculpture by Tiziana Buffagni represents an invite to experience new dimensions. Its meaningful title, “Wild Sensation”, highlights the main concept behind the piece of artwork: the mingling of wild and human nature. From such a clash of opposing identities, a new one is born as a perfect being.

organized by ITSLIQUID Group
curator Luca Curci
project manager Giulia Tassi
project coordinator Amaride Ferrante
collaborator Valentina Minniti, Annachiara Recchia
graphic designer Marina Caracciolo
supported by MICHALOPOULOS PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO | DoT2 Creative Studio

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ABOUT US

ITSLIQUID is a web-based information platform, founded in 2001 by Luca Curci, dedicated to the worldwide distribution of information about calls for entries, exhibitions and events at some of the world’s leading art galleries, museums and foundations selected. ITSLIQUID has already built a readership of more than 300.000 qualified subscribers. Among them architects, designers, artists, collectors, art critics, curators, dealers, and other personalities of the International art, architecture and design world. It provides advertising services, press office services for events and projects, articles and specials published on the website, and media partnerships services.

During the last 20 years, ITSLIQUID Group has become a cultural hub between creatives, exhibition spaces and art lovers. Among our international partners, Art Now Fair, Art Vancouver, Design Tokyo, INDEX Qatar, INDEX Saudi, The Big 5 Construct Dubai, The Big 5 Construct Qatar, Photo LA Los Angeles and international magazines like Art Style. ITSLIQUID Group supports some of the most important no-profit organizations, like UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, SSCS – Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, One Tree Planted, The Ocean CleanUp and Plastic Oceans, with the goal to increase public awareness about environmental issues. Click here to find out more.

ITSLIQUID GROUP includes a section dedicated to the organization of international art events, managing exhibitions of painting, photography, video art, installation and performance; it organizes solo and collective shows, art residencies and international contests. Its object is to use new technologies to globalize the language of art, and to connect artists working in every part of the world.

ITSLIQUID Group manages a variety of art spaces all over the world; among them THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space in the heart of San Marco Square in Venice and different historical buildings, THE LINE Contemporary Art Space in London city centre and other different partners worldwide. Since its beginning, the group has organized more than 250 events all around the world, involving more than 5.000 artists, in more than 60 international venues in Italy, the USA, Canada, the UK, Spain, France, etc. Most of the last events have been realized in museums (CCCB – Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona in Spain, NCCA – National Center for Contemporary Arts in Moscow, etc.), galleries and private foundations.

ITSLIQUID is based on fluidity, motion, connection and accessibility. Making things easy to do. Welcome.

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OUR LOCATION

ITSLIQUID Art Space – Rome is a Contemporary Art Space in the city centre of Rome. The Gallery hosts solo and collective shows with a rich variety of contemporary painters, photographers, designers, architects, sculptors, performers and video makers.

ITSLIQUID Art Space – Rome is located in a prestigious historical building, a few minutes walk from Colosseum and Roman Forum. The exhibition space is on the ground floor, with four main rooms and three bright shop windows on the street. Easily accessible, the space is fully equipped for hosting exhibitions and events.