Mazzoleni presents Contemplatio, the first London solo exhibition in almost a decade by contemporary Italian artist Andrea Francolino. Open from 5 June to 12 September, the exhibition offers a sanctuary for reflection, inviting visitors to contemplate the beauty found in both human and earthly imperfections.
Andrea Francolino (Bari, b. 1979) centres his artistic reflections on the concept of rupture in all its variations, consequences and possibilities. He explores rupture as a marker of space and time, a symbol of natural evolution, and a representation of environmental and societal equilibrium. With an ecological and philosophical approach, Francolino views rupture as a space for infinite possibilities.
In Contemplatio, the artist invites viewers to rediscover two fundamental conditions for engaging deeply with art and its manifestation: contemplation and inspiration. Contemplation – through stillness and reflection – allows us to see beyond surface appearances, while inspiration transforms perception into generation. In an era driven by speed and performance, these concepts are elusive, Contemplatio thus urges us to pause, reflect and embrace the profound messages that emerge from these fractures, both in the world around us and within ourselves.
Central to the exhibition, a striking 24k gold crack, made in Turin in 2022, embodies the show’s core theme: imperfection as a source of reflection, transformation and meaning. Through highlighting the crack with gold, the artist does not suggest that the crack should be closed or repaired. On the contrary, it must remain open and never be concealed. As such, this evocative work serves as a threshold to infinite possibilities.
The contemplative process also emerges in the series Caso x caos x infinite variabili, in which Francolino explores the balance between chance and order. Each work begins with the accidental breaking of a glass which forms the foundational layer of the piece. The artist then meticulously hand-cuts three additional layers, replicating every fracture of the first glass with exact precision. When superimposed, these layers construct a structure where harmony emerges from chaos—an echo of nature’s own ability to find equilibrium within disruption.
Further exploring themes of human and ecological connectivity, a floor-based work invites visitors to physically engage with the piece by stepping onto it, leaving their own imprint. Over time, these traces accumulate, turning the artwork into an evolving narrative – an ever-changing record of shared experiences and personal reflections.
The exhibition also features a series of recent photographic works, each image symbolically and virtually through GPS coordinates, linked to a celestial body. These works remind us of our connections beyond the earthly realm, expanding our perspective to the vastness of the cosmos and inviting us to transcend the limits of our imagination.
Through Contemplatio, Francolino invites visitors into a space of quiet introspection and renewal – where cracks, fractures and breaks are portals to transformation.
