Contemporary art enters into dialogue with the solemnity of the monumental complex of the Sanctuary of Oropa, not far from Biella, through the personal exhibition of Daniele Basso The folds of the soul, curated by Irene Finiguerra. From 2 July to 18 September 2022, visitors will find nine works, in a path that involves open spaces and other unconventional places, in an ideal itinerary where art and spirituality meet. In this exhibition, the artist investigates the hidden places of the human spirit, in particular through a series of monumental sculptures in hand-polished mirror steel, which create a visual and mental short circuit played on the contrast between the work and the space in which it is located. These are works that, due to their size, testify to the courage of the artist. The exhibition at the Sanctuary of Oropa. At the entrance to the Sanctuary, located in the lower square, the visitor is greeted by Boogyeman (fear) who is faced by Ikaros (courage and aspiration to fly) positioned in turn in the square in front of the Upper Basilica: the clash at distance between these two works metaphorically represents the struggle between the weaknesses and aspirations of each one. It is the tool that nature has provided to humans to evolve, as each challenge leads beyond its limits, towards new levels of knowledge and consciousness. The two sculptures define and contain the entire itinerary of the exhibition as alpha and omega, the beginning and end of this journey. The heart of the Sanctuary, the Ancient Basilica, houses on the altar of the chapel the blue statue of the Twisted Christ whose intense blue color prompts the public to question the faith. Under the colonnade, towards the plain, the Achill falcon is a tribute to the mountain, which embraces the sanctuary with hardness and enchanting beauty, but at the same time takes on a shamanic value: the bird of prey expresses the power of vision, wisdom, protection and together with the personal and spiritual transition. It is no coincidence that the hawk has been a symbolic bird in many cultures: from ancient Egypt to the Indians of North America, who considered it a totem animal. In the Library, a place for reading, meditation and study, the deliberately unfinished Frame works enter into a relationship with the observer forcing him to a process of abstraction and creative fantasy for a formal completion. They are a metaphor for that process of personal formation to which the study contributes to the creation of individual identity in relation to the collectivity, as social beings. Continuing in the royal rooms of the Museum of treasures, the Lion King work expresses royalty, dignity, power. But royalty is such only by giving space to the opinion of others, in search of wisdom. In the sleeve of Sant’Eusebio, in front of the Ancient Basilica, the Blue Vierge work reinterprets the ex-voto in a contemporary key to express the powerful feeling of gratitude. An attitude of humility, affection, devotion to the Mother, but also a good practice, towards those who offer help and support in daily life. Due to its historical, architectural and naturalistic characteristics, the Sacro Monte di Oropoa was declared a Unesco heritage site in 2003. Places of undeniable charm and strong artistic and religious interest, the Sanctuary and the Black Madonna, like the entire Oropa basin, have always been a point of reference for the Biella area. The exhibition intends to enhance them also through the placement of the works in little known or visited points, testifying how contemporary art can be inserted even in apparently unlikely contexts: a real declaration of love by the artist for his own territory. Basso’s exhibition also brings Oropa closer to the city of Biella, where it continues in various locations: in the Government Palace (Prefecture) with the exhibition of Bimbo Faber, a work that interprets the world of Italian artisan and industrial excellence, created in 2019 for the 50th anniversary of CNA Biella; in the Civic Library and at the Museum of the Biellese Territory with the works Aureo and Aureo jr, a tribute to culture, and in particular to writing, as tools for the construction of oneself and one’s identity, works born in 2016 as a symbol of Officina della Screttura – Museum of Sign and Writing in Turin; in the internal courtyard of Palazzo Ferrero the work Hic Sunt Leones, never exhibited before, which tells the search for the deepest self as a process in relation to change, as the only true constant in life; and finally at Palazzo Gromo Losa, in the tour of the new interactive multimedia installation Plaç. The Piazzo stories, the works of the Ironman Frame series, never exhibited before, unfinished fragments of the Ironman sculpture, inspired by the superhero of the Marvel Universe, which celebrates the man Tony Starks willing to give the end of his conspicuous heritage to fight for ideals in which he believes and remembering that everyone is the protagonist of their own era! These works are part of Daniele Basso’s artistic career, of which the Biellese territory has already hosted three well-known and appreciated sculptures for some time: Aquamantio in piazza Curiel in front of the Civic Library (donated to the city of Biella for the 100th anniversary of Moscow 1916 , Biellese excellence), the work Together for the headquarters of Yukon (Vigliano Biellese) and Coke Its Me PA (author’s proof of the homonymous work on permanent display at the World of Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta GA) at Relais Santo Stefano (Sandigliano). “For years I have been following the work of Daniele Basso and I have started several collaborations with him both for the anthological exhibition in Argenta, and on the occasion of the Fifth Coronation of the Madonna d’Oropa.”, Says the curator of the exhibition, Irene Finiguerra: “This exhibition it seems to me a good opportunity to let those who come to Oropa and Biella know about Basso’s artistic production, which he has received many appreciations in international contexts with emphasis on communication: I am thinking of his meeting with Bocelli and with companies of international prestige. I also believe that contemporary art integrates well in places of spirituality as has been the case in Biella in the Duomo for some time with the works exhibited for the Sia luce project, which I have been following since 2019. ” “It is an honor for me to be able to present my work in Biella, and even more so here in Oropa, a place of my heart, full of profound spirituality.”, Comments the artist Daniele Basso. “To the proposal of the Rector Don Michele Berchi, pride was immediately added to joy and great enthusiasm, which fortunately first infected Dr. Ferraris with the CRB Foundation team, and then many other friends and sponsors, to whom I am deeply grateful, that made it possible in a very short time to give life to this extraordinary event. Which has also invaded Biella, in the most significant places dedicated to art and beauty, from the Museum of the Territory, to the Historic Palaces of Piazzo, with the patronage of the Municipality, the good being of the Mayor Claudio Corradino and the councilors Massimiliano Gaggino for Culture and Barbara Greggio at Unesco, but with a work also at the Government Palace, welcomed by His Excellency the Prefect Dr. Franca Tancredi… In short, a lot of work, but in excellent company! Helped by the careful curatorship of Irene Finiguerra, with the installations by Fabrizio Lava, who with this collaboration celebrates 30 years of E20Progetti… After Lajatico and piazza dei Priori in Volterra, an exhibition that is entirely focused on dialogue. The profound and often difficult dialogue with ourselves, with our aspirations and our fears. But also the dialogue of art with the places and the territory that hosts it. The dialogue of Oropa with Biella, united in the same event. And finally the uninterrupted dialogue of everyone, starting from the supporters of the event, up to the visitors, with the desire to go beyond the surface of things, right into the folds of the soul, towards the essence of life itself … Where better than Oropa to find ourselves! ” “As rector and on behalf of the Sanctuary, I express all my satisfaction to be able to host this exhibition of my friend Daniele Basso.”, Says the Rector of the Sanctuary of Oropa, Don Michele Berchi. “The folds of the soul, curated by Irene Finiguerra, is actually more than an exhibition, it is a real artistic journey within Oropa. The idea fascinated me from the beginning: two long years of pandemic and now this war that bloody our Europe, have forced us several times to walk the path from fear to hope, and Oropa, in this journey, was fundamental. for all of us. In this Sanctuary, where pilgrims come to draw hope from Our Lady of Oropa, no one, like someone who has truly experienced fear of their own powerlessness, can understand how necessary it is for their souls. For this reason we are delighted and grateful to be able to open the gates of the Sanctuary to the works of an artist from Biella established all over the world who, with this exhibition, renews his ties with his territory and with this Sanctuary that I know is particularly dear to him ” . “The Cassa di Risparmio di Biella Foundation enthusiastically supports the exhibition“ The folds of the soul ”, the first important exhibition of the Biella artist Daniele Basso dedicated to the territory.”, Comments Franco Ferraris, President of the Cassa di Risparmio di Biella Foundation. “Biella and Oropa will be united in the name of contemporary art and, given the importance of the event, Palazzo Gromo Losa will also host some unpublished works. An important occasion that will not fail to attract a large audience, thus enhancing the Sanctuary of Oropa as a tourist destination. ” The inauguration of the exhibition is set for Saturday 2 July at 5.30 pm and will be open to the public. It will be held in the conference room of the Sanctuary of Oropa, with a subsequent visit to the exhibition in the presence of the artist and curator.
Daniele Basso – biographical notes Born in 1975, the artist is known for his works in mirror-polished metal. He has participated in three editions of the Venice Biennale of Art, with exhibitions and works in different parts of the world, including Carrousel du Louvre (Paris), University of the Seraphicum (Vatican), GNAM (Rome), Expo 2015 (Milan), World of Coca Cola (Atlanta), Officine della Screttura (Turin), Museo del Parco (Portofino), Shoah Memorial (Milan) and in galleries in New York, Dubai, St. Petersburg, Tel Aviv, Monte-Carlo, Lugano, Milan, Turin and Bologna. In 2015 he Coke Its Me (The Coca-Cola Company) and Gigant (SWC Alta Badia – Unesco Park Dolomites). In 2016 the Aquamantio sculpture in front of the new Biella Civic Library. He has created works for numerous awards: Ferrari 70th Anniversary, 67th Sanremo Festival, Star Team Monaco, for companies and associations: Bimbo Faber of CNA Biella, Lamborghini and Costa Cruises. The work “Risen Christ” was placed on the altar of the Sanctuary of Oropa on the occasion of the fifth Coronation in 2021. His works are at Artion Gallery, Galerie Sept, Simon Bart, Hysteria Art, Laura Tartarelli Contemporary, Galleria Ferrero, BIBOx Art Space.