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 Giancarlo Savino - Biography

 

Giancarlo Savino was born in Naples in 1947 and finished high school with a diploma as a technical mechanical draftsman, but he did so only to close a cycle. His passion is art, which he begins to learn in the studio of sculptor Gabriele Zambardino.

In '67 he approaches the experimental theater (Alfred Jarry theater) of Mario and Maria Luisa Santella. He works as a creator of lighting effects and stage space. Over the years his interest in theater led him to collaborate with A. Neiwiller, V. Malosti, and the En Vol theater.

In 1968 his first collective was at the “Spelonca ”studio of sculptor Zambardino. In the same period with Arturo Morfino, musician and creator of the Play Studio, he participates as a drummer and for percussionist in the free jazz evenings of M. Schiano, A. Piazza, B. Limone and the experimentation of concrete music. The following year he meets Dino Buzzati in Milan. From this friendship will arise the occasion for his first exhibition at the Cortina Gallery in Milan. From 1973 to 1976 always in Milan he is engaged between politics and culture. In the movement he meets Dario Fo, F. Leonetti, E. Mari, P. Spagnulo, P.A.Bertoli, R.Carpentieri. Artists and intellectuals who are important in his expressive formation. In 1980, his political experience over, he returned to Naples. He exhibited at the Goethe Institut with a work on the stereotype, published in 'Storia d'Italia' Einaudi editions.

​​In 1981 he designed and realized with the help of artist C. Chierici the first urban painting in Naples entitled “The Fall of the King”.

In 1983 he founds with C. Chierici, A. Arlotta and R. Mariniello the association “Materiali in Disordine ”and organizes at Castel dell'ovo the first regional review of the arts entitled Campania Felix.

In 1984 he is present at the Expo in Bari. He has solo exhibitions at studio il Castello and studio Miele in Nola, which includes him in the exhibition “Revanche” curated by the Kunztkommission and C. Von Tavel, director of the Museum of Modern Art in Bern. In the same year he is Gravina di Puglia invited by Grazia Terribile to the “Intervento omocromico”; he makes a work entitled “Qualcosa è successo.”

In 1985 he is with A. Neiwiller in “Storia naturale infinita” festival by S. Arcangelo). In 1986 with D. Izzo, S. Ravo, G. Ceraldi, C. Chierici, S.M Martini and A. Neiwiller, the Virus Group was born. Subsequently, the group launched the Studi Aperti project with the collaboration of other artists including F. Donato, A. Biasiucci, M. Balatresi, Joe Mangone, S.M. Fragano, a real and non-tendentious way to open a debate on art and to find visibility for all artists by opening studios to the public. The project that indicated the majority of the studios present , was welcomed by the general public and national newspapers to which a guide was attached in the cities where the event then took place.

A few years later, historian V. Corbi will mention him in the volume: which avant-garde in Naples artists in the second half of the twentieth century. from 1986 to 1991 the activity of the Virus Group continues with Savino, D. Izzo and C. Viparelli.

The most important exhibitions are at the Scalise studio in Naples, Kanten in Gothenburg and Damfzentrale (Kunsthalle in Bern). At the end of 1991 the Virus Group disbanded.

In 1992 Savino resumes activity at the Jedi Galleri gallery in Copenhagen. In the same year he participates in Neiwiller's last show “L'altro sguardo” (Volterra theaters ). In 1994 Antonio Neiwiller, fraternal friend and great protagonist of Italian experimental theater, died. To him Savino will dedicate the watercolor book “Frame caffè” with a preface by A.Tabucchi. In 1995 he directed on behalf of Savioli and Kramer's Theatre en Vol, the theatrical event “Mangiatori di terra” (Quartu Sant'Elena festival). In 1996 to a major solo show at the Stalke Gallery in Copenhagen.

In 1997 he moved to Rome where with L.Del guercio, S.maiuscolo Maya and R. Salvia he founded the association Studi Aperti e Artisti Associati. In 2000 he is at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome with the exhibition “the torment of figures”.

In 2002 part participates in the exhibition the “temptation to exist” in the San Michele complex by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities.

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In the same year with collaborates with V. Malosti designing the scenes for the shows Drive and Hamlet X. In 1996 one of his sculptures is acquired by the Museum of the Italian Novecento in Cento(BO). In 2006 he exhibits at the Palazzo dei Sette in Orvieto the exhibition “Malditerra” (text by maiuscolo P. Balmas).

End of the year participates in the film Obsidian by S. Maya.

In 2008 with F. Filincieri, C.Chierici, N. Spezzano and other artists founds the association Community X in Corviale. In 2010 he is invited by the Italian Gallerists Association to exhibit at the Canonica Museum in Rome.

In 2011 and at the Live biennale in Venice and at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Turin. In 2013 he won the Limen international prize. The work is in the collection of the Limen Museum of Contemporary Art in Vibo Valentia. In March 2015 with artists N.Spezzano, F. Perry, E. grasso, S.Ravo and others promotes and carries out in the Regina Margherita middle school in Rome the project “The doors of the future”.

In 2016 he exhibits with C.Chierici at the space of V.Mutti (MI), the project “Earthlings - terrestrials ”and at the traveling group exhibition Biblioteche di Roma.

In 2017 he exhibits at Temple of Art Gallery in Rome and at Studio il Castello, Maddaloni(CE).

In 2018 he participates in the “REMO” project and installs a permanent work in the Regina Margherita school in Trastevere ( Rome). 

At the end of June 2018 the book “Ittum” with a collection of 50 inks is published on behalf of the publisher Gangemi in Rome. 

In 2019 he meets again with G. Ceraldi and C. Chierici and in association with other artists decide to refound the Virus Group.

In 2020 solo exhibition at Paola Pozzi's Frame Ars et Artes Gallery Naples

2020 Community X gallery exhibition artists Virus Group, Rome 

In 2021 the group debuts with a performance at the “Dune” event organized by G. Zorcù.

In 2021 solo exhibition at Open Art Monti Gallery in Rome by Monica Cecchini with a catalog edited by Jonathan Giustini.

In 2022 anthological exhibition of Virus Group at Drugstore Museum in Rome curated by the Ministry of Culture/Special Superintendence of Rome.

2021 “Dune-creative camp of Virus Group, Principina a mare (GR).

2023 BACC Gallery group exhibition of Virus Group, Rome 

2024 Studio Tibaldi group exhibition Trastevere, Rome

2024 Social space solo exhibition Kopenhaven- Denmark

His works are in private collections, museums and foundations.

© 2020 by Virus group-Corviale International Center of Arts

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