Patrick Tuttofuoco

Italian artist Patrick Tuttofuoco is to present an exhibition of new work for Chindia, his first UK solo show at Haunch of Venison, London. The exhibition is to focus on the two main emerging world powers - India and China. The show is to tour the urban landscapes of both counties, with the artist's photographs, maps, sculptures and video projections producing an ever evolving megalopolis. The artist's experiences and observations of both countries become blurred through different scenes, shapes and sounds.

The exhibition is based on a recent trip to 17 of the world's fastest growing cities over three months, in ten different countries. Travelling in the company of an architect and two film makers, Tuttofuoco documented all he saw, photographing, interviewing and absorbing lifestyles, architecture and ways of living. The aim of the travellers was to survey the contemporary city, done in the context of an examination of the future of urbanization.

Tuttofuoco has produced a four meter high sculptural interpretation for each of the cities Shanghai, Beijing, Delhi, and Bombay. Acting as both emotional and socio-cultural reflections of the artist's experience of each place, the bright colours and modernist forms of the sculptures reflect the cities' rapid development and globalisation.

Collaboration is a natural part of Tuttofuoco's work. 'Long Distance Runners', a video projection and mirror work, was conceived and made with the artist's friend and film maker Mattia Matteucci. The work uses poetic film footage the two artists shot together in India and China, the mirrors reflecting the cityscapes into infinity.

A ‘mega-continent’ map work, 'The Line Up', physically merges India and china together within a large, round mirror, isolating the two countries in the centre of the world. This is to be shown alongside 'Open Range', a vast faux cityscape presented as a giant panorama, unrolled around the gallery.

The exhibition journey ends with 'Fear No More', a photograph of a young couple, a Chinese woman and an Indian man. Friends of the artist, the couple embody the humanitarian side of Chindia through the sharing of a kiss.

Patrick Tuttofuoco is known for his utopian ideals; his interest in society, cities and community. The combination of fluorescent colours, loud music and quirky architecture always lends a great energy to Tuttofuoco's work. The artist's fresh aesthetic creates a unique critique of the subject, encouraging interactivity with the work.

The artist's yearning for interaction, coupled with an interest in social and political dynamics, are inspired by the ideals of the radical architecture groups and individuals of the 1970’s, such as Archigram, Superstudio and Cedric Price. Other seminal issues for Tuttofuoco arise from his focus on group dynamics and behaviours, including collaboration, power, desire and interchange, reflecting his readiness to embrace change.

Patrick Tuttofuoco is to take part in the Folkestone Sculpture Triennale in 2008.

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Patrick Tuttofuoco
Chindia