Italo Zuffi
Italo Zuffi was born in Imola in 1969.
Zuffi is a visual artist who uses performance and sculpture, text‐based work and video to create ‘forms that do not arise from nothingness, as would the myth of the white page recommend; instead, these forms fit into the flow of existing things. [Zuffi] does not know where the train comes from or whither it goes, and he does not care – he just gets on it’ (Nicolas Bourriaud, 2003).
EDUCATION
He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna (Diploma in Painting, 1993), and at Central St Martins College of Art & Design, London (Master of Arts, 1997).
In 2001 he was awarded the Wheatley Bequest Fellowship in Fine Art (Sculpture) at the Institute of Art & Design, School of Art, of Birmingham (GB).
He is a PhDArts ‘promovendi’ at the University of Leiden (NL), Academy of Creative and Performing Arts.
Since 2011 he is a guest‐lecturer in performance at the Royal Academy of Art of The Hague (NL).
For some time now, his thought has been drawn to concepts of competition and rustic faith.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2013
Gli ignari (The Unawares). Private house, Milano
2012
La penultima assenza del corpo. Fondazione Pietro Rossini, Briosco
2010
Zuffi, Italo. Pinksummer contemporary art, Genova
2009
La seconda origine, curated by Riccardo Caldura. Galleria Contemporaneo, Mestre
2008
Erased Palladio. Monotono, Vicenza
2007
On The Rocks (with Flavio Favelli) curated by Antonio Grulli. Galleria Nicola Ricci, Pietrasanta
Taking No Sides By Side. Newman Popiashvili Gallery, New York
2006
La nostra evoluzione è qualche cosa di diverso. Francesco Pantaleone Arte Contemporanea, Palermo
Uomo, luce. Fondazione Ado Furlan, Pordenone
Fede rustica, curated by Davide Ferri. Museo Arredo Contemporaneo, Godo di Russi
2005
Macchine per vedere (with Davide Rivalta) curated by Pier Luigi Tazzi. Fondazione Lanfranco Baldi, Pelago
Shaking girl. CRAC Alsace (project room), Altkirch
Progetto Per Un Esempio Crudele, curated by Lorenzo Benedetti. Volume!, Roma
2004
Tout l’amour de Meisenthal. Le 36, Strasbourg
2003
Elegante e straniero. Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
Shaking doors. Gallery Suite 106, New York
2002
The mystery boy. Institute of Art & Design, School of Art, Birmingham
2001
My wallpaper is cracking (with Guillaume Leblon) curated by Luca Cerizza. Sparwasser HQ, Berlin
Relazione 1. Galerie Buchmann, Köln
Il caso seguente. Studio Massimo De Carlo, Milano
2000
A causa della distanza. Viafarini, Milano
Panoramica, curated by Roberto Daolio. Centro Culturale Paggeria 1, Sassuolo
1999
Profilati, curated by Roberto Daolio. Chiostri di San Domenico, Imola
È tutto vero. Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
Not wild enough. Perry’s Motors, London
Durata. Galleria Estro, Padova
1998
Adesso mi sento a casa. Spazio d’Arte Contemporanea Care Of, Cusano Milanino
L’ultimo ostacolo mentale. Galleria Neon, Bologna
1996
No entry for dogs… and Italians! (with Davide Bertocchi). Moira, Utrecht
La coppia felice insorge. Zone c/o Graffio, Bologna
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2014
La Pelle Symphony of Destruction, curated by Antonio Grulli and Codalunga. MAXXX – Project Space, Sierre
Le statue calde, curated by Simone Menegoi. Museo Marino Marini, Firenze
2013
Drive my car. OPENING Via Pola, Milan
Italia Tropici, a 2‐day performance & contemporary theatre festival at Angelo Mai Altrove Occupato, Rome
Il fascino discreto dell’oggetto. Figura 2: Natura Morta, curated by Ilaria Gianni and Cecilia Canziani. GNAM, Rome
Almanac. Newman Popiashvili gallery, New York
2012
Fuoriclasse, curated by Luca Cerizza. Villa Reale, Milan
Mexico City Blues, curated by Chris Sharp. Shanaynay, Paris, and New York Gallery, New York
Future, Landscape. A changing exhibition, curated by Riccardo Caldura. Forte Marghera, Mestre
Evolution de l’Art, curated by Kunstverein Milano and Valerio del Baglivo. Kunstverein, Milan
2011
Beyond the Fragile Geometry of Sculpture, curated by Lorenzo Benedetti. De Vleeshal, Middelburg
The Müleskinders: A Prototype Publication, curated by Neil Chapman and David Stent in the framework of Diagrammatic form. Banner Repeater, London
Posso errare, ma non di core: passato prossimo e futuro anteriore dell’Italia, curated by Andrea Bruciati. Galleria Comunale d’Arte Contemporanea, Monfalcone
2010
When We Build Let Us Think That We Build Forever, curated by Matt Williams. Institute of Art and Design at Margaret Street, Birmingham
Casabianca. Zola Predosa
Ripresa, curated by Pier Luigi Tazzi. Fondazione Lanfranco Baldi, Pelago
Space is the Place, curated by Artemis Potamianou. Lo & Behold, Athens
Piazze di Roma, curated by Achille Bonito Oliva and Cecilia Casorati. Museum of Contemporary Art, Shangai
Is This All There Is? curated by Joanna Greenhill. Lethaby Gallery at Central St Martins College, London
2009
Civica 1989
2009 Celebration Institution Critique, curated by Andrea Viliani. Fondazione Galleria Civica and various venues, Trento
Transfer, curated by Antonio Geusa and Evgenja Kikodze. MARS ‐ Contemporary Art Center, Moscow
Qui è altrove, curated by Francesco Poli and Francesca Referza. Palazzo De Sanctis, Castelbasso
Curatology. DOCVA, Milano
Rites de Passage, curated by Pier Luigi Tazzi. SCHUNCK‐Glaspaleis, Heerlen
C4 BUNKER, curated by Luca Massimo Barbero. C4 ‐ Centro Cultura Contemporanea, Caldogno
La pelle (Il Sacrificio), curated by Antonio Grulli. Codalunga, Vittorio Veneto
La notte, curated by Lorenzo Benedetti. La Kunsthalle, Mulhouse
La pelle, curated by Antonio Grulli. Codalunga, Vittorio Veneto
…a lady’s shoe lost in the grass (part 2), curated by Antonio Grulli. Tensta Konsthall, Stockholm
2008
…a lady’s shoe lost in the grass, curated by Antonio Grulli. Italian Cultural Institute ‘C.M Lerici’, Stockholm
Nient’altro che scultura / Nothing but sculpture XIII Biennale Internazionale, curated by Francesco Poli. Centro Arti Plastiche Internazionali e Contemporanee, Carrara
Soft Cell. Dinamiche nello spazio in Italia, curated by Andrea Bruciati. Galleria Comunale d’Arte Contemporanea, Monfalcone
Peripheral gaze and collective body, curated by Corinne Diserens. Museion, Bolzano
KAAP, curated by Mark Kremer. Fort Ruigenhoek, Groenekan
leftovers, curated by Jennifer Chert and Luca Cerizza. Micamoca Berlin
Sporgersi prego. Galerie Lange & Pult, Zürich
2007
NEW ENTRY, curated by Chiara Agnello. C/O Careof, Milano
Micronarratives – 48th October Salon, curated by Lóránd Hegyi. Kulturni Centra Beograda, Belgrade (SERBIA)
Storytellers, curated by Pietro Gaglianò. Acciaiolo Castle and Park, Scandicci
Laws of relativity / La legge è relativa per tutti, curated by Anna Colin and Elena Sorokina. Palazzo Re Rebaudengo, Guarene d’Alba
curarequito, curated by Cecilia Canziani and Vincent Honoré. Museo de la Ciudad, Quito (Equador)
2006
videoREPORT ITALIA: 04_05, curated by Andrea Bruciati. Galleria Comunale d’Arte Contemporanea, Monfalcone
L’immagine del vuoto. Una linea di ricerca nell’arte in Italia 19582006, curated by Bettina Della Casa and Marco Franciolli. Museo Cantonale d’Arte, Lugano
Every Day… another artist/work/show, curated by Hemma Schmutz. Salzburger Kunstverein, Salzburg
Natura e metamorfosi, curated by Marisa Vescovo. Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Shangai, and Creative Art Center ‐ Millenium Art Museum, Beijing
Fucina 3 – Della Natura (Umana) Molteplice, curated by Antonio Grulli. Michelangelo Quarries, Carrara
Giardino. Luoghi della piccola realtà, curated by Lóránd Hegyi. PAN Palazzo Roccella, Napoli
Il vento dal Settecento all’arte contemporanea, curated by Fondazione Torino Musei. Castello di Castagneto Po
Bologna: video in vitro, curated by Andrea Bruciati. Meduza Galerija, Koper
Black & white, curated by Artemis Potamianou. Hellenic American Union, Athens
2005
Conquering new spaces – Muslim Mulliqi Prize 2005, curated by Mehmet Behluli.
Galeria e Arteve e Kosovës, Prishtina (UNMIK Kosova)
Loop – arte e microeconomia, curated by Lorenzo Benedetti and Francesco Stocchi. Angelo Mai, Rome
No bolts this wall, curated by Seulgi Lee. de/di/bY office, Paris
Italian Camera, curated by Raffaele Gavarro. Isola di San Servolo, Venezia
Roma Poesia 2005, curated by Ilaria Gianni and Francesco Ventrella. Fondazione Baruchello, Rome
La scultura Italiana del XX secolo, curated by Marco Meneguzzo. Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro, Milano
Artchitecture of change, curated by Marco Scotini. Isola Art Centre, Milano
Domicile : privé/public, curated by Lóránd Hegyi. Musée d’Art Moderne de Saint‐Etienne Métropole
Man mano. Galleria Continua, Beijing
Ad’a, area d’azione, curated by Roberto Daolio. Rocca Sforzesca, Imola
Senza confine. Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
2004
From Nowhere To Somewhere Without Return: The Knowledge, curated by Irene Amore.
Coleman Project Space, London
Spread in Prato 2004, curated by Pier Luigi Tazzi. Various venues, Prato
Ipermercati dell’arte. Il consumo contestato, curated by Omar Calabrese. Palazzo delle Papesse, Siena
De humana proportione. Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
Settlements, curated by Lóránd Hegyi. Musée d’Art Moderne de Saint‐Etienne
From nowhere to somewhere without return: dei luoghi assenti e presenti con biglietto di sola andata, curated by Irene Amore. Change + Partner Contemporary Art, Rome
Opera video. Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
Il silenzio sul mare, curated by Lorenzo Bruni. Saletta Comunale d’Arte Contemporanea, Castel San Pietro Terme
on air: video in onda dall’Italia, curated by Andrea Bruciati and Antonella Crippa,
Galleria Comunale d’Arte Contemporanea, Monfalcone
Polvere, curated by Elio Grazioli. Ex Stabilimento GEA, Milano
2003
Assenze/Presenze, curated by Emanuel Lambion. Le Botanique, Bruxelles
Himmelschwer. Transformationen der Schwerkraft, curated by Alois Kölbl, Eleonora Louis and Johannes Rauchenberger. Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz, and Kunsthalle Brandts Klaedefabrick, Odense
La ciudad radiante, curated by Achille Bonito Oliva. Centre Cultural Bancaixa, Valencia
Il Palazzo delle Libertà, curated by Lorenzo Fusi and Marco Pierini. Palazzo delle Papesse, Siena
2002
At least begin to make an end. Strip, Revert and Dewind, curated by Ann Demeester.
W139, Amsterdam
Assab One – La generazione emergente dell’arte in Italia, curated by Roberto Pinto and Laura Garbarino. Ex Stabilimento GEA, Milano
discourski!, curated by Marek Wasilewski and Giles Perry. Galeria Arsenal, Bialystok
Secondo Premio Carmen Silvestroni, curated by Rosalba Pajano. Palazzo Albertini, Forlì
Tensio, curated by Andrea Bruciati. Galleria Comunale d’Arte Contemporanea, Monfalcone
2001
Predator. KX.Kampnagel, Hamburg
Necessità di relazione / Necessity of relationship, curated by Fabio Cavallucci. Galleria
Civica d’Arte Contemporanea, Trento
Sincretismi, curated by Bartolomeo Pietromarchi and Teresa Macrì. Fondazione Adriano Olivetti, Rome
P.S.1 Italian Studio Program 2000/2002. Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome
Boom!, curated by Sergio Risaliti. Manifattura Tabacchi, Firenze
Terraferma, curated by Riccardo Caldura. Centro Culturale Candiani, Mestre
Post Production, curated by Nicolas Bourriaud. Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
Strategies against Architecture II, curated by Luca Cerizza. Laboratorio per l’Arte Contemporanea – Stabilimento Teseco, Pisa
Nuove acquisizioni. Museum of Palazzo Forti, Verona
Invasione italiana, curated by Salvatore Lacagnina. Galleria Civica d’Arte Contemporanea, Montevergini di Siracusa
La GAM costruisce il suo futuro. Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna, Torino
8 artisti, 8 critici, 8 stanze, curated by Dede Auregli. Galleria d’Arte Moderna ‐ Villa delle Rose, Bologna
A sense of wellbeing. Loss, history and desires, curated by Marco Scotini. Palace of the Imperial Termal Baths, Karlovy Vary
2000
La jeune scene artistique italienne dans la collection de la Fondation Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. Domaine de Kerguéhennec, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Bignan
Finale di partita / Endgame / Fin de partie, curated by Pier Luigi Tazzi. Istituto Francese, Firenze
Rutger Hauer. Perry’s Motors, London
On the bubble, curated by Luca Cerizza. Galerie Analix Forever, Genève
m²: insensatezza, curated by Luca Cerizza. Laboratorio per l’Arte Contemporanea –Stabilimento Teseco, Pisa
Inediti. e/static, Torino
Nuovi artisti dall’Emilia Romagna, curated by Italo Furlan. Fondazione Ado Furlan, Pordenone
courtesy_neon. C/o ex‐magazzino stampati DLF, Bologna
1999
Zone. Espèces d’Espace, curated by Francesco Bonami. Palazzo Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Guarene d’Alba
On the bubble, curated by Luca Cerizza. Galerie T19, Vienna, and Studio Massimo De Carlo, Milano
Anarchitecture, curated by Lorenzo Benedetti, Anja Dorn, Makiko Harada, Rob Tufnell,
Suzanne van de Ven. De Appel, Amsterdam
Utz, curated by Michele Dantini. Palazzo delle Papesse, Siena
Fuori Uso ’99. Ars Medica 31 artisti e una clinica, curated by Ludovico Pratesi and Paola Magni. Ex Clinica Baiocchi, Pescara
Biennale dei Giovani Artisti dell’Europa del Mediterraneo. Ex Mattatoio, Rome
Premio d’Arte MercedesBenz.Centro d’Arte La Loggia, Montefiridolfi
1998
A questo punto, curated by Riccardo Caldura and Chiara Bertola. Galleria Bevilacqua La Masa, Venezia
Arti Visive 2. Palazzo Ducale, Genova
Da Bologna, curated by Roberto Daolio and Maria Rita Bentini. La Chaufferie, Strasbourg
Il Punto 3° edizione: “L’opera, il discorso”, curated by Elio Grazioli. Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
San Zenone, curated by Associazione Viafarini. Galleria Civica, Campione d’Italia
1997
Officina Italia. Rete EmiliaRomagna, curated by Renato Barilli. Ex Fabbrica Arrigoni, Cesena
Degree Show. Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, London
Aperto Italia ’97 (selected by Guido Molinari). Palazzo Lucarini, Trevi
LAB 12.2 T.I.N.A. (there is no alternative), curated by Roberto Daolio. Viafarini, Milano
Chi o che cosa secondo i casi. Galleria Neon, Bologna
PERFORMANCES AND ACTIONS
2013
Masse trasportabili. City of Firenze and Museo Marino Marini, Firenze
Pawel und Pavel: Uscita n. 1 (work made in collaboration with Margherita Morgantin). Angelo Mai Altrove Occupato, Rome
2012
Portrait of Gheddafi in the dark. Fondazione Pietro Rossini, Briosco
Flavio separated. Fondazione Pietro Rossini, Briosco
Toothpick geometries. Performed at Kunsthuis SYB booth on the occasion of Kunstvlaai
2012,
Festival of Independents. Amsterdam
Masse trasportabili. Performed on the occasion of IPERCORPO 2012. Ex‐Deposito ATR Savonarola, Forlì
Escalation. Performed within the framework of Evolution de l’Art. Curated by Kunstverein Milano and Valerio del Baglivo. Kunstverein, Milano
2011
L’ultimo ruggito / The last roar. Performed within the framework of Matter of action.Curated by Giorgio Maffei, Sara Serighelli and Samuele Menin. O’Artoteca, Milan
2010
Zuffi per Bonami. Pinksummer Contemporary Art, Genoa
Elenco (Bologna Contemporanea – Transparency now), performed on the occasion of a public talk at MAMbo, Bologna
Roberta Giacometti racconta i bar di Imola / Roberta Giacometti tells about the bars of Imola, performed on the occasion of Festa Mobile curated by Davide Ferri and Antonio Grulli. Bar Miki e Max, Bologna
Ho difeso il tuo onore (Artefiera 2010), performed at Francesco Pantaleone Arte
Contemporanea’s booth at Artefiera Art First, Bologna
2009
Ipercampitura, performed on the occasion of Circolare, curated by Eva Marisaldi and organised by Fondazione Galleria Civica di Trento. Pista degli autoscontri, Trento
Schnaps fϋr zwei. Galleria Contemporaneo, Mestre
Masse trasportabili. Shargorod
2008
L’ultimo ruggito / The last roar. Monotono, Vicenza
Toothpick Geometries, performed on the occasion of Every story happens twice, first as an event and then as representation of the event, curated by Francesco Pedraglio, Caterina Riva and Pieternel Vermoortel. FormContent’s booth at Zoo Art Fair, London
Partita a bocce con verdura / Bowls Game with Vegetables, Gianmarco Gottarelli playing Paolo Fricano, performed on the occasion of La sfida, curated by Giacinto di Pietrantonio and Luca Cerizza. Rotonda della Besana, Milan
Subire / To suffer, performed on the occasion of Performance day, curated by Emilio Fantin. MAMbo, Bologna
Partita a bocce con frutta / Bowls Game with Fruit, played against Gabriel Pellicanò.
Uovo Open Office, Basel
2006
Rassegna stampa. Museo dell’Arredo Contemporaneo, Godo di Russi
Elenco (Flash Art 2006), performed in collaboration with Madcaps. Circolo Repubblicano, Godo di Russi
2005
Scorribanda. Fondazione Baruchello, Roma
2004
Espresso. Arte oggi in Italia (performed in collaboration with Madcaps on the occasion of Space is the place_3). TPO, Bologna
2003
L’aquila. Il salame (accompanied by Carlo Capirossi at the piano). Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
2001
Elenco (performed with Madcaps on the occasion of Tuneup, Clipon, Plugin).
Teatro Studio, Scandicci
Marcus. Performed with Stefano Pisetta at the drums and Walter Civettini at the trumpet on the occasion of Necessità di relazione. Convegno per parole ed opere /
Necessity of relationship. A conference for words and works. Centro Polifunzionale dell’Opera Universitaria, Trento
1998
La raccolta degli asparagi selvatici (performed with Paolo Zuffi at the drums on the occasion of Il Punto 3° edizione). Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
I fischiatori di San Gabriele. Galleria Neon, Bologna
Una bomba su Gabicce! (performed with Paolo Zuffi at the drums on the occasion of Laboratorio). Salara, Bologna
1997
The Reminder, performed on the occasion of alive art an evening of performance.
Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, London
1996
Rotazione. Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Roma
VIDEO SCREENINGS
2009
Objets sceniques, curated by Marie De Brugerolle. Le Cinématographe, Nantes
2008
Arte vs Porno. Pretesti erotici da Italia e Finlandia, curated by Elisa Del Prete and
Annamari Vänskä. Cinema Lumiere, Bologna
2007
Videopolis. Cinema MPX, Padova
Videoart Yearbook 2007. Chiostro di S. Cristina, Bologna
Dopofestival, curated by Adrienne Drake and Antonio Pezzuto. Screened as part of the 43a Mostra Internazionale del Nuovo Cinema, Pesaro
Video.it 8: con acqua/senz’acqua, curated by Francesco Bernardelli, Mario Gorni, Francesco Poli. Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti, Torino
2006
Selected Works. Un concorso di videoarte italiana, curated by Elena Bortolazzi. Palazzo Bonaguro, Bassano del Grappa
2005
Beyond Media 2005, curated by Marco Brizzi. Ospedale degli Innocenti, Salone Brunelleschiano, Firenze
Urban flesh and blood. Cinema Barricada, Kaliningrad
Acsè, curated by Andrea Bruciati. GAM Villa delle Rose, Bologna
Catodica, curated by Maria Campitelli. Various venues, Trieste
2004
Wanderers, curated by Angela Serino. Screened as part of the Impakt Festival. Utrecht
Lo sguardo ostinato / The obstinate eye, curated by Elio Grazioli. MAN Museo d’Arte della Provincia di Nuoro, Nuoro
Opera video. Galleria Continua, San Gimignano
2003
Virtual Perception, curated by Laurence Hazout‐Dreyfus. Screened as part of the 1st
Prague Biennial, National Galerie, Prague
2002
Polyphonix 40, curated by Manuela Corti. Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
2001
Magic and Loss, curated by Luca Cerizza and Cristiana Perrella. Screened as part of the Pandaemonium Festival. The Lux Centre, London
Magic and Loss, curated by Luca Cerizza and Cristiana Perrella. CAC, Vilnius
Rassegna video, curated by Letizia Talbot. Galleria Francese, Roma
1998
AAVV È una modesta proposta, curated by Francesca Cristellotti and Stefano Giovanazzi.
Screened as part of Senzatitolo. Eventi, Azioni, Esposizioni. Festival Internazionale di Trento e Rovereto. Fabrika Spazio Temporaneo d’Arte, Rovereto, and Sala Espositiva di Via Malpaga, Trento