24th October – 25th November 2015
Liz, Oil on paper, 75 cm x 100 cm
Galleria B4
Via Vinazetti 4/b
Bologna
www.galleriab4.it
The cover image of the exhibition “Volti oltre” by Alessandra Alma Masi at the Galleria B4 in Bologna, Italy, is a painting that shows the English Queen. “Liz” is easily recognizable by her royal attributes: the crown, the pearl necklace, the white fur collar. The face, surrounded by white curls is well-know. Nevertheless the portrait shows an unusual expression: the eyes are shut.
This is not the only surprise the exhibition offers. There are over twenty portraits of more or less known persons. On the first view, they seem to be traditional oil paintings, some on paper, and some on canvas. Most of them are taken frontal, without personal attributes. So one can only wonder about the personality.
However, the deeper view opens to a different perception. Alessandra Alma Masi’s paintings are based on photographs. That might be the source of their liveliness; the picture taken in an instant; the impression to look directly in the depicted face. But it’s as well due to the virtuoso use of the colours; fine and gradient or pastose patches, depending on the artist’s intuition to build out the personality.
This individuality of the paintings is intensified by the approach of the exhibition as a whole. Typically the portrayed persons are looking straight into the observer’s eye. Nevertheless, some are just looking asides or even close the eyes like “Liz”, as if they do not like to show their inside.
This impression is reinforced by the video shown at the occasion of the exhibition’s opening. More than one hour one can study the faces and habits of the video-portrayed persons. During one or more minutes the camera focuses each personality frontally: some are introverted, not seeming to be impressed; some try to give a strong impression staring directly into the camera, not to lose control. Moreover others appear to get nervous, turning the eyes and head up, down or sideways every few seconds. Each individual tries his best to show or hide feelings in front of the penetrating camera. The result is more than only faces.
