Antonino La Vela
Bio
Contemporary artist & blogger writer, exploring themes not just in my paintings. You can find more about my work and thoughts on my personal website http://www.antoninolavela.com and my blog http://www.antoninolavela.it.
Stories (52)
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Andrea Fraser: Performing the Institution, Embodying the Critique
The Body as a Site of Power If Michael Asher altered space, Fred Wilson rearranged artifacts, and Hans Haacke exposed financial structures, then Andrea Fraser brought the institution into her body. She didn’t just critique the museum, she became it, impersonated it, spoke in its voice, and ultimately unraveled it from the inside.
By Antonino La Vela9 months ago in Art
Hans Haacke: The Artist Who Named Names
Hans Haacke began his artistic career not as a provocateur of institutions, but as a systems artist, someone fascinated by ecology, feedback loops, and the interaction between natural and social environments. In the 1960s, he created installations that visualized physical phenomena: condensation in a plexiglass box, grass growing under artificial lights, wind currents captured in real time.
By Antonino La Vela9 months ago in Art
Marcel Broodthaers: The Fictional Museum That Told the Truth
When Marcel Broodthaers declared himself an artist in 1964, it was less a career move than an act of irony. For years, he had been a struggling poet, brilliant, incisive, but largely ignored. His final poetry collection, Pense-Bête, sold fewer than a dozen copies. Frustrated by the marginalization of poetry and intrigued by the rise of conceptual art, he did something radical: he encased his unsold books in plaster, rendering them unreadable, and declared them sculpture.
By Antonino La Vela9 months ago in Art
Fred Wilson: Rearranging the Museum, Rewriting the Narrative
Fred Wilson didn’t add new works to the museum. He didn’t arrive with canvases or sculptures under his arm. Instead, he walked through the museum’s storerooms, archives, and dusty corners, asking one simple but revolutionary question:
By Antonino La Vela9 months ago in Art
Into the Heart of Aviva Rahmani’s Blued Trees
A Fusion of Art and Eco-Friendly Materials At the core of Blued Trees lies an innovative artistic process that marries tradition with sustainability. The Ultramarine blue pigment, originally derived from ground lapis lazuli, is now synthesized (though non-toxic) and mixed with buttermilk to create a medium that is both environmentally friendly and rich in texture. This natural binder offers several distinct benefits:
By Antonino La Vela10 months ago in Art
A Journey Called Aviva
My deep admiration for Aviva Rahmani, and the privilege of knowing her personally, has only deepened my respect for her visionary practice over time. Every encounter with her draws me into a realm where art transcends aesthetics, delving into history, politics, and the intricate dance between the individual and the collective. Meeting Aviva was transformative, revealing her boundless creativity, incisive intellect, and fervent emotional drive.
By Antonino La Vela10 months ago in Art
Blue Rocks: The Beginning of My Journey
Not just a Spark of Interest Starting with Aviva’s Blue Rocks project, I’ve been reflecting on our current political and social climate, a time when environmental and ecological issues seem increasingly sidelined. Just last month, I realized I needed to return to school, driven by an urgent need to refresh and deepen my understanding so I could effectively counter the absurdities of today’s challenges. This process of relearning is more than an academic exercise; it’s about equipping myself with the knowledge needed to advocate for our environment and challenge the neglect of our natural world. In a society that often prioritizes short-term gains over sustainable progress, I see education as the foundation for meaningful change. This journey back to learning is my way of fighting back, focusing especially on environmental issues, ensuring that the voice of ecological activism remains strong as we continue to champion the preservation and restoration of our planet.
By Antonino La Vela10 months ago in Art
Aviva Rahmani: A Visionary at the Intersection of Art and Activism
Aviva Rahmani is an extraordinary figure whose journey in art transcends conventional boundaries. Blending creative expression with fierce activism, she has redefined what it means to use art as a tool for environmental and cultural renewal. Her work, which spans decades, embodies a relentless commitment to addressing ecological challenges while engaging in a rich dialogue with history and politics.
By Antonino La Vela10 months ago in Art
A Reflection on “The Chinese Dog” and Beyond
n painting The Chinese Dog, my intention was to create a visual manifesto, a bold artistic statement against the suffering inflicted upon animals in events such as the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. I channeled my emotions into a vivid, chaotic composition meant to provoke empathy and reflection. Yet, as I step back and reconsider the broader implications of my critique, I am confronted by a troubling paradox, one that challenges my own position as both an artist and a human being who consumes meat.
By Antonino La Vela11 months ago in Art
How I Found Happiness in My Art… and Beyond
Link to full post here For a long time, I thought happiness was something to chase, a distant goal that I would reach once I had the right circumstances, the right success, the right recognition. But over time, I realized that happiness is not a destination, it’s a way of walking through the world. And more than anything, I found it in the process of creating, in my art, and in the simple yet profound moments of life.
By Antonino La Vela11 months ago in Art
Verdadism: Soraida Martinez’s Art of Truth and Social Revolution
Art, at its most powerful, is a mirror that reflects not only beauty but also the raw, unvarnished truths of society. In the case of Soraida Martinez, art becomes a vehicle for resistance, dialogue, and transformation. Through her pioneering art movement, Verdadism, Martinez has created a striking fusion of abstract expressionism and written social commentary, forging a unique artistic language that challenges, educates, and empowers.
By Antonino La Vela12 months ago in Art
