Fabrizio Cotognini

Starting from old engravings of such famous old masters as Guercino and Guido Reni, Fabrizio Cotognini develops new icons inspired by literature and alchemy. In Aurora, the competition work, the artist in fact acts on antique prints depicting frescoes of the allegory of Aurora, both painted Rome, in Villa Ludovisi by Guercino, and by Reni in the Casino dell’Aurora Pallavicini. Cotognini uses pencil, ink, white lead and gold foil in order to bring to light the hidden geometry of the two compositions; he also introduces into his work words, drawings, and other images taken from popular culture. Example of this are the !owers that recur in the two compositions, also inserted in pencil into the artist’s book that is the third compositional element of the work, and that come together to form an imaginary circle and reveal an underlying symbolism: the natural and immutable cycle of time.