The Matria Gallery inaugurates the solo exhibition of Rosa Neutro, In itself from a simulacrum to a real flame, which will take place on September 25, 2024, at 7:00 PM. This exhibition marks Neutro's debut in Italy and will be open until November 9, 2024.
Rosa Neutro's artistic practice (Cangas, 1979; lives and works in Cangas, Pontevedra, Spain) explores themes related to identity construction, female clichés, and the complex relationships and contradictions experienced by women/artists/mothers in defining themselves and achieving a meaningful presence in the world. Through the use of memory, various literary sources, and her autobiography, Neutro investigates the influences of our references in shaping us as subjects, undertaking a deconstruction of what has been learned and inherited. She employs a combination of techniques such as photography, photomontage, installation, and poetry, aiming to emphasize the multiple, undefined, and changing nature of the concept of woman.
In itself from a simulacrum to a real flame, is a title that reflects Neutro's artistic inquiry, inspired by the poem "The Island" by Giuseppe Ungaretti. This exhibition explores a symbolic journey from simulation to reality, from darkness to light. The centerpiece of the exhibition, featuring black text on a fluorescent pink tablet, represents the duality between personal life and artistic expression, offering a deep and reflective view of the female condition.
The exhibition presents 19 new works created specifically for this occasion, all inspired by the idea of recycling and reusing materials. This concept, which held great relevance in the 20th-century avant-gardes, is used by Neutro to transform waste materials into valuable artistic elements. In her works, Neutro collects and reworks discarded materials, integrating them with photographs and texts. These elements are shaped, assembled, and transformed to create forms that range from zoomorphic masks to architectural floors.
The exhibition not only celebrates the strength and resilience of women but also invites viewers to reflect on their ongoing evolution and increasing visibility. The flame that emerges from the works becomes a powerful metaphor for transformation and passion. Since her debut, Rosa Neutro has used materials such as photographs and texts to explore themes of transformation and revelation. For the artist, text is not merely a caption but an essential part of the work that stimulates critical reflection. The titles of her works are chosen with precision, highlighting the importance of text as a fundamental element of the artistic discourse.
The exhibition In itself from a simulacrum to a real flame, addresses the historical invisibility of women in art with a critical and innovative perspective, inviting the public to explore the duality of roles and the new possibilities of creative expression in the contemporary context.