The Battle Between Carnival and Feast - Adrian Ghenie at Palazzo Cini Gallery in Venice

Adrian Ghenie, Figure with Dog, 2019, Oil on canvas, 250×200 cm (98,4 x 78,7 in)
Courtesy Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, London· Paris, Salzburg
© Adrian Ghenie

(Venice, Italy) The new season at Palazzo Cini Gallery kicks off with the celebrated Romanian artist Adrian Ghenie, the "darling of international curators and auction houses," whose paintings not only engage with the history of painting, but also with "painting the texture of history."

Ghenie's rise in the art world has been meteoric. Born on August 13, 1977, the son of a dentist had his first group show in 2006. Ten years later, in February 2016, his "Sunflowers of 1937" sold at a Sotheby's auction in London for a whopping £3,177,000. In October 2016, his "Nickelodeon" sold at Christie's for £7.1 million(!).

As did painters before him, Ghenie fuses grand themes and narratives with contemporary figures and current events. The Battle Between Carnival and Feast, curated by Luca Massimo Barbero, presents nine recent paintings, some painted specifically for this exhibition. The paintings focus on the conflict and turmoil caused by today's geo-political issues united by the theme of water. Here are the titles:

• The Wall (2019)
• The Raft (2019)
• The Drowning (2019)
• Figure with Dog (2019)
• Self-Portrait with Animal Mask (2018)
• Self-Portrait with iPhone (2018)
• Untitled (2018)
• Untitled (2019)
• Untitled (2019)

The Raft by Adrian Ghenie - Photo: Cat Bauer

The Raft, the largest painting in the group, reveals a floating life raft surmounted by a mass of "vulnerable, naked legs and feet, set against a tumultuous sea and sky." It reminds us of the images we see in today's news of the perilous journeys that refugees are forced to make to escape conflict.

The subject of the three Untitled paintings is easily recognizable...

Untitled 2018, 2019, 2019 by Adrian Ghenie - Photos: Cat Bauer

The Palazzo Cini Gallery in Dorsoduro was once the house of the 20th century industrialist and philanthropist Vittorio Cini (1885-1977). The second floor, where you will find Adrian Ghenie, is devoted to exhibitions and cultural events. The first floor recreates the charm of Cini's residence and a glimpse into his private collection.

Adrian Ghenie The Battle Between Carnival and Feast runs from April 19 to November 18, 2019, and is free to residents of Venice on April 25. Please go to the Giorgio Cini Foundation for more information.

Ciao from Venezia,
Cat Bauer
Venetian Cat - The Venice Blog