Draft:Marco Carnà

Marco Carnà (Carnate, December 15, 1929 – August 10, 2021), known as Marco Colombo, was an Italian painter, sculptor, and poet.

Marco Carnà in front of Ritmo Franto, 1971

Biography

Agostino Bonalumi, Edoardo Fraquelli and Marco Carnà (photography by Uliano Lucas)

Beginning of artistic life

Marco Carnà was born on December 15, 1929, in Passirano di Carnate (Milan), the town from which he later adopted his name. "Carnà" is indeed the ancient name of the town. Between 1941 and 1944, during the years of the Second World War, he studied at Collegio Ballerini in Vimercate and then briefly in Seregno. Although he could have continued his education at a boarding school, his father's concerns about bombings led to the interruption of his academic path. Despite his young age, he started to collaborate with some artists to adorn the interior of the church of Carnate.

From 1946 onwards, Carnà embarked on journeys that led him to explore new cities, such as Venice and Padua. During those years, he also had the opportunity to expand his academic knowledge thanks to the extensive library of a refugee from Milan who moved to Carnate during the war.

In 1946, he enrolled in the Drawing School of Castello Sforzesco in Milan. Due to his natural talent, he was promptly admitted to the final course, but opted not to attend classes. Subsequently, he joined the Scuola Libera del Nudo in Brera, where he remained for several years. Eventually, feeling uninspired by formal education, he abandoned his studies.

During the 1950s, he became interested in Modern French painters from the 19^th and 20^th centuries, from Courbet to Cezanne. This passion was almost a rite of passage for aspiring young artists of the time. In the following years, Marco Carnà chose to adhere to the so-called "Neonaturalismo Lombardo" movement, after several stylistic conflicts. In 1958, he showcased his first solo exhibition in Milan, hosted at the Montenapoleone Gallery. Meanwhile, he started to travel both within Italy and abroad, seeking out sources of artistic inspiration.

Early career and success

Torsione, 1975 (Marco Carnà Archive)

Between 1953 and 1962, Marco Carnà experienced an exceptionally productive period under the great influence of Ennio Morlotti and Renato Birolli. During the 1950s and 1960s, he shared ideas and artistic opinions with avant-garde artists such as Agostino Bonalumi, Enrico Castellani, and Piero Manzoni. These years marked the emergence of his first shaped canvases, characterized by rhythmic compositions and tubular structures. These tubes would eventually define his distinctive formal alphabet.

In 1958, he rented a studio in Via Confalonieri in Milan, later relocating to Via Ciovassino. Although his professional connections with artists from the Milan avant-garde scene grew exponentially, he predominantly worked in solitude. Oftentimes, his friends Arturo Vermi, Uliano Lucas and Costantino Guenzi would visit him in his studio. Sometimes they gathered at local bars in the Brera neighborhood, such as Jamaica or Geni's. Those places were perfect to engage in discussions about social and political ideologies.

In 1959, at the 11^th Lissone Award, the artistic movements of Tachisme and Informel gained prominence, and Carnà adhered to the latter. This decision brought Marco Carnà towards a flourishing period, marked by numerous solo and group exhibitions in Prato and in Paris. He garnered acclaim from both critics and the public, receiving several awards. His artworks also began to attract the attention of collectors.

From 1963 onwards, Carnà's painting completely changed. His inspiration shifted towards modernity, drawing from the imagery of refineries and industrious factories. These structures sparked a period of intensive exploration, culminating in the creation of his iconic "pipes". These elements became the starting point to create a new artistic style, that of "scultopitture". These artworks, to which he referred to as "Ironies", reinvented his figurative painting with a Pop aesthetic.

Colonna barocca. Omaggio a Bernini, 1967 (VAF Foundation, Francoforte)

"District Workshops"

In 1964, Marco Carnà joined several important artists from Milan in the adventure of the "District Workshops", in Sesto San Giovanni. Notable figures among them included Enrico Castellani, Agostino Bonalumi, Lino Marzulli, Lino Tiné, Luciano Fabro, Turi Simeti, Hidetoshi Nagasawa, and Arturo Vermi. The initiative arose from a real estate speculation that left numerous spaces vacant within a suburban neighborhood in Sesto San Giovanni. In response, the owner granted these spaces to a collective of artists. Their ateliers were established at the ground floor, while some of them lived at the first floor. However, just three years after, Marco Carnà became uninterested in this lifestyle and chose to leave.

The return to Carnate

In 1967, Marco Carnà returned to his hometown, Passirano di Carnate.

During the 1970s, he embarked on a journey of exploration with various materials, transcending the confines of traditional painting to venture into the realm of sculpture. Through modular frames arranged in specific sequences, he created the so-called "hunchback" canvases. These artworks represented a progression of Carnà's earlier experimentation with twisted sculptures, a motif he had already begun exploring in the early 1960s.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he shifted his focus towards a more illustrative style of art, particularly following significant ecclesiastical commissions. Among them, we cite the project he realized in 2006 for the stained-glass windows of Monza Cathedral.

In 1987 he married Daniela Piazza.

From 2002 to 2004, Carnà worked for a Milan-based periodical called "Il Domenicale." In its first issue on the 26^th of October 2002, he contributed drawings for a page dedicated to Ezra Pound. In its second issue, instead, there was a Crucifixion realized by the artist.

In the last years of his life, Marco Carnà never stopped working on the development of his authentic artistic research. He died at 91 years old in Passirano di Carnate, on the 10^th of August 2021.

Art

Artistic path

Omaggio a Piero della Francesca - Tubi, 1982 (collezione privata, Milano)

Marco Carnà's artistic journey is an experimental path which involved several styles, shapes, and techniques. He produced an incredible number of paintings, drawings, and sculptures. As of today, most of his works are part of the Marco Carnà Archive, curated by Marina Pizziolo and Romano Ravasio.

Initially inspired by the natural surroundings, Marco Carnà adhered to the artistic current currently known as "Neonaturalismo Lombardo". His influences included renowned Renaissance painters such as Paolo Uccello and Piero della Francesca. By the late 1950s, he transitioned to the Informal movement. This change was partially influenced by the vibrant intellectual atmosphere of the Brera district in the 1960s, a hub for political and social discussions. From 1963 onwards, Carnà's art diverged from the conventions of Informal art to draw inspiration from modernity instead. Thanks to his passion for refineries and factories, the artist embarked on a new artistic phase dominated by the motif of "pipes". These shapes finally became his primary point of reference.

The return to Passirano di Carnate marked a significant shift in his artistic path. He distanced himself from the experimental tendencies of those years to focus on sculpture and especially on the production of illustrative cycles. Religious art emerged as the greatest protagonist of the last four decades of his life.

Throughout his life, Marco Carnà always chose to isolate himself in his art. "My legacy", he explained, "is not that of the Cubists or the Impressionists, but rather the choice to escape from the established paths of curators, critics, and merchants. I chose to isolate myself from all of that. I left Milan, I left the competition, and I embarked on this journey where every artwork is a battle".

Religious and illustrative art

From 1967 onwards, Marco Carnà shifted his focus to a more illustrative style of art. He produced numerous illustrations for literary works, including Dante's "Divine Comedy," Comte de Lautréamont's "Chants de Maldoror," Gogol's "Dead Souls," Edgar Allan Poe's stories, Raspe's "Baron Munchausen," and a comprehensive Gospel.

In 1980, upon invitation from the parish of Carnate and in collaboration with Lino Marzulli, Marco Carnà painted eleven canvases (140x100) with biblical themes for the Church "Alla Stazione." These canvases, arranged in a specific sequence, depicted themes such as "the Creation", "the Sin", "the Liberation", and "the Sacrifice". The order was intended to be read starting from the entrance. In 1986, for the parish church of Carnate, the artist designed and realized eight cardboards for eight large windows.

During the winter of 1990, right after the fall of Berlin's Wall, Marco Carnà is invited by the national authorities of the Sovietic Union to exhibit his work in Saratov. Until then, access to the city was forbidden to foreigners. The exhibition focused on the illustrations of a masterpiece of Russian literature: "Dead Souls", by Nikolai Gogol.

Between 1994 and 1995, Father Felice Radice, a close friend of the artist and parish priest of the Church of Holy Heart of Triante, approached Marco Carnà with a proposal. He asked him to paint eighteen large works depicting the themes of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. These canvases (180x150) can be seen in the transept of the church. From 1995 to 2000, Carnà completed the iconographic narrative in Triante by creating another eighteen oil paintings inspired by the life of Christ. Additionally, the "under-church" hall situated in the basement below the transept hosts eleven large-format cartoons realized by Carnà in 2000. They are the preparatory drawings for the stained-glass windows adorning the church's facade, transept, and portal.

In 1998, the Congregation of the Family of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Sulbiate asked him to create a visual representation of the life of Mother Laura Baraggia, founder of the congregation, to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of her passing. The artwork, an oil on panel, is currently housed by the Congregation in Sulbiate.

In 2006, Marco Carnà undertook his most significant liturgical project: the project of two windows adorning the facade of the Monza Cathedral. Under the commission of the Archpriest Monsignor Leopoldo Gariboldi, the artist adorned the windows with two colorful Gospel themes that harmoniously complement the cathedral's architectural style.

Among Marco Carnà's extensive production, his series of drawings depicting Dante's Inferno stands out as particularly renowned. In 1993, these drawings were showcased in Crema, in the Cloisters of the former convent of Sant'Agostino. In 1997, a remarkable exhibition featuring 150 panels depicting Dante's Inferno was organized in Prato at the Spazio S. Caterina, following an invitation from the municipal authorities and the Antiquarian Library. In 2007, Carnà expanded the reach of his exhibition on the Inferno beyond Italy, presenting his works in Minsk, Belarus.

In 1993, the artist himself took the initiative to publish a collection of these works titled "Il Visibile Parlare – Disegni dall'Inferno Dantesco (1953–1983)."

Exhibitions

Main solo exhibitions

• 2022 - Milan, Ex Richard Ginori, Shaping Ideas. Marco Carnà. Strutture primarie: 1969-2010, 10-11 June.
• 2012 - Monza, Church of the Holy Heart in Triante, Passione di Cristo segnata col pennino e inchiostro da Marco Carnà. 17 March - 25 April.
• 2007 - Minsk, Belarus, Modern Art Musuem, Il visibile parlare. Disegni dall'inferno dantesco (1953–1993), June.
• 2000 - Monza, Auditorium of the Church of the Holy Heart in Triante, Gesù il Cristo. Diciotto dipinti di Marco Carnà, 15 April - 7 May.
• 1997 - Prato, Spazio Santa Caterina, Il visibile parlare. Disegni di Marco Carnà dall'Inferno dantesco, 6-28 September.
• 1996 - Monza, Arengario, Carnà, Via crucis, 14 June - 15 July.
• 1993 - Crema, Sala Cremonesi of the Cultural Centre Sant'Agostino, Il visibile parlare, 17 April - 2 May.
• 1993 - Milan, Palazzo Sormani, Marco Carnà: illustrazioni, 10-30 September.
• 1993 - Monza, Church of the Holy Heart in Triante, Marco Carnà. Cartoni delle vetrate, 23-24 October.
• 1993 - Milan, Garzanti Library, Le anime morte. Disegni dal poema di Nikolj Gogol, 16 November - 8 December.
• 1991 - Plaisance du Touch, Xème Rencontre de l'Art e de l'Artisanat, Carnà Informel. Dipinti 1953-1962, 26-27 October.
• 1990 - Saratov, Sovietic Union, Avtograf Gallery, Le anime morte. Disegni dal poema di Nikolj Gogol.
• 1990 - Carnate, Villa Fornari Banfi, Marco Carnà. L'immagine immaginata 1954-1963, 28 April -10 June.
• 1988 - Usmate Velate, Villa Borgia, Dall'Inferno dantesco 'Il visibile parlare'. Marco Carnà, disegni (1953–1983), 22 May - 5 June.
• 1987 - Seregno, Sala mostre Mariani, Marco Carnà. Evangelario. 150 disegni dal 1955 al 1965, 9 March - 3 April.
• 1987 - Villasanta, Villa Camperio, Marco Carnà. Disegni (1946–1962), 21-29 March.
• 1986 - Monza, Teatrino of the Villa Reale, Cartesio/oggi, poesie di M.G. Zamparini. Lettura grafica di Marco Carnà, 30 May.
• 1986 - Macherio, Chapel of the parish church of Saints Gervasio and Protasio, Marco Carnà, Evangelario disegni, 27-29 August.
• 1985 - Osnago, Sancutary of the Virgin of Loreto, La Cappelletta, Marco Carnà. Evangeliario. 150 disegni dal 1955 al 1965, 21 April - 21 July.
• 1985 - Vimercate, Studio Valcamonica, Marco Carnà. Ironia. Ovvero il puzzle nella pratica artistica come dissimulazione del reale, 5 - 19 October.
• 1983 - Milan, Galleria delle Forme d'Arte, Marco Carnà, 22 April - 13 May.
• 1981 - Bernareggio, Palazzo Comunale Prinetti, Marco Carnà, 12-30 December.
• 1979 - Cremona, Renzo Botti Gallery, Carnà, February.
• 1976 - Brescia, Lo Spazio - Modern Art Gallery, Marco Carnà a Brescia. Rilievi, 14-27 February.
• 1974 - Suzzara, Icaro Modern Art Gallery, L'inferno nei disegni di Marco Carnà, October.
• 1974 - Brescia, Fant Cagnì Arte Contemporanea, L'inferno nei disegni di Marco Carnà, May.
• 1973 - Monza, Montrasio Gallery, Carnà, 17-30 November.
• 1970 - Madesimo, Hotel El Chico, Marco Carnà 1952-1970. Mostra antologica, 21 March - 5 April.
• 1965 - Milan, Montenapoleone Gallery 6a, Marco Carnà, December 1965 - January 1966.
• 1964 - Macerata, Galleria Amici dell'Arte, Marco Carnà, 31 January - 9 February.
• 1961 - Prato, Falsetti Gallery, Marco Carnà, 8-21 April.
• 1961 - Rome, Galleria del Triangolo, Marco Carnà.
• 1960 - Paris, De Beaune Gallery.
• 1959 - Prato, Falsetti Gallery, Carnà, 18-28 October.
• 1958 - Milan, Montenapoleone Gallery.

Main collective exhibitions

• 2022 - Monza, Teatro Binario 7, 1962-2022. A sessanta dai Sessanta, 6 May - 3 July.
• 2012 - Sulbiate, Sant'Ambrogio Church, Sacre rappresentazioni nelle opere di Marco Carnà e Benvenuta Magni, 16-23 September.
• 2003 - Milan, Backy Bar, Arte Pace, 31 May - 30 September.
• 2002 - Milan, Backy Bar, Opere dalla collezione del pittore E. Bonfanti, 23 February - 31 April.
• 1996 - Chiari, Art Biennal of the City of Chiari. International painting competition upon invitation, 1st edition, November.
• 1995 - Carnate, Villa Fornari Banfi, Mondonico, l'Adda e dintorni. Emilio Gola, Donato Frisia, Ennio Morlotti, Marco Carnà, Edoardo Fraquelli, Piero Maggioni, Enrico Gaudino, 14 May - 18 June.
• 1986 - Monza, Mirabellino Monza's Park, Sei artisti per sei appunti di viaggio verso.... Marco Carnà, Hilda Reich, Gim Diligenti, Franco Sortino, Chin Hsiao, Piergiorgio Zangara, 6-20 July.
• 1985 - Milan, Casa della Cultura, 200 artisti per Vitale Petrus, 21-29 March.
• 1984 - Monza, Villa Reale, Mostra nazionale di pittura Città di Monza 1984, 10-30 June.
• 1982 - Rome, Congress Palace, 1st European collective of contemporary art, 28-30 May.
• 1978 - Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum und Künstlerhaus, Der Rahmen, meine Welt. Die Sammlung eines italienischen Tischlers, 8-31 October.
• 1977 - Toronto, Palace Pier, Ten contemporary artists from Italy, 21-28 May.
• 1977 - Cornate d'Adda, Atelier Noveau, Agostino Bonalumi, Gian Carlo Bulli, Marco Carnà, Arturo Vermi, 8-13 October.

Literary works

Publications curated by the artist

• Icastica, drawings from 1946 to 1956.
• Mimesi, drawings from 1946 to 1963.
• Carnà, paintings landscapes figures, from 1946 to 1962.
• Astrazione, drawings from 1948 to 1966.
• Disegni, from1948 to 1963.
• Disegno disegnato, from 1953 to 1964.
• Il visibile parlare, drawings from 1953 to 1983.
• L'altre cose ch'i v'ho scorte, drawings from 1953 to 1987.
• Dipinti figure ritratti, from 1955 to 1962.
• Torsi, drawings from 1956 to 1963.
• Calligrafie, drawings from 1956 to 1964.
• Tubi, paintings from 1956 to 1987.
• Neonaturalismo, drawings/paintings from 1957 to 1961.
• Paesaggi, figure, paintings from 1957 to 1962.
• Naturalismo informale, drawings on paper from 1958 to 1962.
• Sovrastrutture, paintings from 1961 to 1969.
• Il Barone di Münchausen, drawings from 1967 to 1969.
• Strutture Contrappunti Ritmi Logogrammi, paintings from 1963 to 1968.
• Disegni (il segno del visibile), from 1948 to 1963.
• Similia, drawings from 1953 to 1964.
• Grafismi, drawings, 1957.
• Figurazioni, drawings from 1950 to 1958.
• Le anime morte, poema di Nikolaj Gogol, drawings from 1956 to 1986.
• I canti di Maldoror, 1011 drawings from 1968 to 1999.
• Figurale, paintings from 1946 to 1962.
• Repertorium. Le cataste, il paesaggio, il viaggio, le planimetrie, gli squarci, works from 1957 to 1963.
• Informale naturalistico, paintings from 1958 to 1964.
• L'andare dimorando, paintings from 1956 to 1963.
• Trofei, works from 1962 to 1967.
• Ironia, scultopitture from 1966 to 1989.
• Scultopittura, works from 1966 to 1985.
• Neumi - strutture primarie, drawings and sculptures from 1961 to 1999.

Literary collaborations

From the 1980s to the 2000, Marco Carnà collaborated with a small publishing house of Osnago, called Pulcinoelefante. He edited some of his poems and illustrated works by various poets, such as Alda Merini.

• Merini, A., (2018). Lettere a un racconto. Italy: Rizzoli Libri. With five drawings by Marco Carnà.
• Arrigoni, A., (2011). Mi ha raccontato il vento. Curated by Università Popolare di Monza. With drawings by Marco Carnà.
• Merini, A., (1997). Orazioni piccole. Crema: dell'Ariete. With drawings by Marco Carnà.
• Hoefer, F., (1994). Acrostici a Scacchi. Crema: Divulga. With 31 drawings by Marco Carnà.
• Merini, A., Piazza, D., Agostino, L., (1993). Ulisse. Poesie. Crema: Divulga. With four drawings by Marco Carnà.
• Grechi, G. F., (1993). La badessa di Castelleone. Crema: Divulga. With drawings by Marco Carnà.
• Salami, C., (1993), Itaca e ritorno. Milan: La Vita Felice. With 30 drawings by Marco Carnà.
• Quintavalle, U. P., (1993) Filottete, l'arco e la ferita. Milan: La Vita Felice. With drawings by Marco Carnà.
• Merini, A., (1992). La palude di Manganelli o il monarca del re. Milan: La Vita Felice. With five drawings by Marco Carnà.
• Zamparini, M., (1986), Cartesio/oggi. Edizioni del Leone. With 90 illustrations by Marco Carnà.
• Carnà, M., Maura, G., (1986), Le apparizioni in/visibili - 18 erofanie, from 1956 to 1964. Bergamo: Le Cinque Vie. With poems and drawings by Marco Carnà.