Massimo Grimaldi
Massimo Grimaldi is an Italian artist exploring the nature of what we call 'art', the way it is being perceived, judged, and understood by. His artistic practice is an ongoing investigation of the criteria used to produce and circulate images, the power and limitations of aesthetic speculation, and the possibility of redefining it in an ethical way. Massimo has had solo exhibitions at Museo Villa Croce, Genoa (2012); Castello di Rivoli, Turin (2009); ZERO..., Milan (2006/2008/2013,2017,2019); Team Gallery, New York (2011/2013); and Isabella Bortolozzi Galerie, Berlin (2005). His work has also been shown as part of group exhibitions such as “Italics” at Palazzo Grassi, Venice and MCA, Chicago (2008–2009) and the 50th Venice Biennale (2003). In 2009 Grimaldi won the MAXXI 2x100 award, and allocated 92% of the 700,000 euros prize for the construction of the EMERGENCYʼs Pediatric Center in Port Sudan. The artist currently lives and works in Milan.
Figurine is a collection of short clips made of GIFs, emojis, drawing applications, and other creative tools available to Instagram users while composing an Instagram Story. The works are a kind of remindings of the social-network-flavoured versions of Fortunato Depero’s artworks or Keith Haring's figures. Each ‘Figurine’ is a kawaii aggregation and representation of the emoji-packed, simplified feelings expressed and conveyed on social media today.
