Stefanucci | Iconografia dell’assenza | Oct 26

Von Buren Contemporary presents 

Iconografia dell’assenza 

the solo exhibition of 

Marco Stefanucci 

Von Buren Contemporary is delighted to present Iconografia dell’assenza (Iconography of Absence), the exciting new solo show of noted gallery artist Marco Stefanucci.  

 Inspired by reflections on the iconic imagery connected to the traditional portrait genre, as well as on the more general themes of memory and absence, this exhibition hinges on the presence of a recurring female figure. 

 The figure acts as a silent narrator, communicating with us through the use of familiar symbolic elements such as the dove, pomegranate, lamb or mirror. These symbols, central to many religious traditions, undergo an interpretative transformation in Stefanucci’s hands, acquiring meanings linked to a personal dimension, memory and loss. 

 The almost ritualistic repetition of the central figure serves to highlight the variation in the details, which are the result of careful and deeply considered choices.  

Stefanucci’s work is richly steeped in a dialogue with artists of the past. The Rome-born painter has studied the techniques of Old Masters in depth and references to their work and art history are the pillars of his oeuvre. 

 Creating a lived-in aesthetic and the illusion that his work has survived through the centuries, the paintings hark back to the Baroque style in particular. The use of acids and solvents to corrode the pictorial surface – a technique which has long characterised Stefanucci’s output – reinforces the ‘past as present’ aspect of his style. 

Marco Stefanucci was born in 1970 in Rome, where he obtained a diploma in Graphic Design and a degree in Contemporary Art History from La Sapienza University. He regularly exhibits in Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, England and Luxembourg.