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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What if we let go? What if we allowed ourselves to imagine a different way?
A Vision of Unity and Hope Imagine, just for a moment, a world where Palestinian and Israeli artists no longer stand on opposite sides of a conflict, but instead come together to create something beautiful, something that speaks not of war, but of peace. Picture a future where paintbrushes replace politics, where the hands that once built walls of division now mold sculptures of reconciliation. This is a dream of hope, a dream that in a land torn apart by decades of violence and grief, art can be the bridge that leads us toward healing.
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
The Virgin Mary That Outraged New York: Art or Blasphemy?
When Chris Ofili unveiled The Holy Virgin Mary in 1996, he redefined the boundaries of religious art. His depiction of the Virgin Mary was bold and unapologetically unconventional: a Black Madonna adorned with elephant dung, surrounded by collaged fragments from pornographic magazines, and set against a shimmering gold backdrop that evoked traditional religious iconography.
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
Piss Christ: A Sacred Icon or the Ultimate Joke on Faith?
Is it possible to offend and enlighten at the same time? In 1987, Andres Serrano dared to test the boundaries of art and faith with Piss Christ, a photograph that has since become an artistic Rorschach test for sacredness, outrage, and even humor. By submerging a plastic crucifix in a glass container of his own urine, Serrano created an image that shocked many, moved some, and left others chuckling at its audacity. But beyond the uproar, Piss Christ invites us to confront uncomfortable questions: Is reverence just a façade? Can sacredness coexist with bodily fluids? And perhaps most provocatively: Why do we care so much about a piece of mass-produced plastic?
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
The Sculpture That Became a Reef
A Vision Beyond the Canvas Jason deCaires Taylor is not your typical sculptor. Instead of galleries or museums, his works are found on the ocean floor, slowly becoming one with the sea. Taylor has redefined the boundaries of art by inviting nature itself to be a collaborator. His underwater sculptures are not just installations; they are living, breathing ecosystems that grow and change over time, transforming static human figures into thriving marine habitats.
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
The House Swallowed by the Sand: Dune-Inspired Art in Namibia
In the heart of the Namib Desert, Kolmanskop stands as a testament to the impermanence of human endeavors, a place where architecture and nature merge to create a work of art that speaks to both history and ephemerality. Once a bustling diamond mining town, Kolmanskop was built in the early 20th century, attracting fortune-seekers and creating a slice of European opulence in the arid wilderness of Namibia. But as the diamond boom waned, so too did the life of the town, leaving it abandoned to the forces of the desert. And it is here, in this desolate abandonment, that a new kind of art emerged, an art sculpted not by human hands but by the relentless embrace of nature.
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
The Stolen Picasso: A Drunken Adventure Gone Wrong
Not all art thefts are dramatic heists with laser grids, ski masks, and getaway vans. Some are more… spontaneous, fueled by a bit too much alcohol and an absurd dose of bad judgment. One such incident took place in 2012, proving that even the great Pablo Picasso wasn’t immune to becoming part of a bizarre, intoxicated escapade.
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
Sex, Power, and Provocation: The Artists Shattering Taboos and Redefining Desire
Mari Chordà, Patrick Angus, Miriam Cahn, and More: Celebrating Art that Challenges, Empowers, and Inspires Art has long been a space for exploring the boundaries of human identity, desire, and connection. Few themes are as profoundly universal yet intensely personal as the human body and sexuality. Through their bold and visionary works, artists like Mari Chordà, Patrick Angus, Miriam Cahn, Catherine Opie, Zanele Muholi, and others have transformed the way we perceive and celebrate these themes. Their art not only affirms life and love but also challenges societal norms, opening new spaces for dialogue, empowerment, and inclusion.
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
Disco and Doodles: How Studio 54 Redefined the Art Scene from Graffiti to Pop
Studio 54, the iconic Manhattan nightclub, epitomized the height of disco decadence during its peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s but also served as a pulsating epicenter for artistic innovation, drawing a mosaic of artists from across the spectrum of street, graffiti, and pop art. Among the glitter and the glam, the venue became a cultural crucible that not only shaped the party scene but profoundly influenced the art movements of its time. This legendary nightclub was not just a haven for the world’s elite and celebrities; it was a dynamic playground for artistic minds like Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose interactions there would leave an indelible mark on the art world.
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
David Schnell: Architect of Illusory Space
David Schnell: Architect of Illusory Space David Schnell is a contemporary painter whose work plunges us into an uncanny visual universe, one where the laws of perspective seem both familiar and entirely transformed. Schnell is renowned for his large-scale canvases that depict fragmented architectural spaces, abstract landscapes, and vivid colors that seem to vibrate and pulse. Today, let’s explore how Schnell crafts these illusory worlds and why his work continues to captivate viewers with its meticulous construction and hallucinatory beauty.
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
Mari Chordà: …i moltes altres coses (…and many other things)
Visiting the Mari Chordà exhibition at the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) was an experience that transcended the usual boundaries of an art exhibition. It was a powerful immersion into the life and work of a woman whose art and activism have shaped the feminist movement in profound ways. The exhibition, titled Mari Chordà… And Many Other Things, is one of the most anticipated shows of the summer season, attracting art lovers and feminists alike to Barcelona. Curated by Teresa Grandas and co-produced by MACBA and the NAM of Tarragona, this retrospective offers an expansive view of Chordà’s career, capturing the political and poetic essence of her work.
By Antonino La Velaabout a year ago in Art
