Just as early 20th century artists were always in search of new artistic stimuli and drew inspiration from archaic models such as African art, so Fabio Bernasconi grapples tenaciously with new and varied experiments, driven by a strong desire for change.

 

He is a kind of unsettled, inquisitive nomad, who revisits the art of sculpture, searching for forms of expression that are intentionally stripped back to basics.

 

This is the context in which one must view his works, which are characterized by great attention to detail, meticulousness, and precise workmanship.

Perfect lines, symmetrical volumes and smooth, shiny surfaces transform the marble into unique, pure works.

 

It would be both inaccurate and an oversimplification to define Fabio Bernasconi’s art as “minimalist”, at least in the historical; sense of the term.

His sculptures hide a highly complex attempt to condense the subject’s shapes, with its origins in mathematical schemes, numerology, astronomy, mythology, and history.

 

As well as being fascinated by late 20th century sculpture, and in a particular Constantin Brancusi and Max Bill, Fabio Bernasconi’s sculpture also looks to a more distant past.

He is influenced by primitive art from Africa, Egypt, Greco-Roman and Japan, not to mention India, where the young artist was first introduced to the secrets of sculpture.

 

His choice of marble is no accident: this sublime material has been used since ancient times to depict the divine and is chosen for its unique characteristics.

 

In his work, Fabio Bernasconi aims to make it noble et relevant, using marble and exquisite stones such as Carrara marble, beautiful black marble from Belgium, and the intense “Azul do Macaubas” from Brazil.

The marble’s versatility and unique properties make it the perfect material for creating pure shapes that express the language of simplicity the artist holds so dear.

 

The artist takes spectators by the hand and invites them to join him in moments of introspective reflection, emotion and wonder, in front of works that together seem journey to discover the mysteries of life: from birth (Life and Life II) and love (Illusion of Love and The Lovers) to dreamlike moments (Vision), before leading us poetically to death (The Breath of Soul).

 

Fabio Bernasconi is a daring and multifaceted creator, who continues to explore the world of sculpture with enthusiasm, extending his research to interior design, where the stone remains  the unconditional protagonist.