We are glad to inform you that from September 26 till November 9 The Flat — Massimo Carasi Gallery opens its doors to the public to welcome a solo show Sirtuine by Venetian artist Michelangelo Penso.

The basement space of the gallery is going be completely invaded by the most recent work of the artist - a site-specific installation which is the next step in a series of works titled Circuiti Genetici.

The installation is a single piece constructed out of industrial materials – a carbon and aluminum framework, interconnected by bright-colored polyester straps. Thus, to see the installation the viewer is forced to actively interact with it – touch, spin and turn it, therefore becoming a part of the work himself.

Science, math, and biology in particular, have remained a basis for artistic research and an indispensible source of inspiration for Michelangelo Penso for many years. The artist has always been fascinated by the scientific realm and reflected upon it in his work by borrowing titles and structures from scientific formulae. The Sirtune installation is no exception.

The installation draws inspiration from its scientific prototype, a class of proteins influencing a wide range of cellular processes like inflammation, stress resistance and, most importantly, aging. The capacity of Sirtuine for facilitating cellular regeneration created ample ground for speculation regarding the possibility of extending one’s lifespan. The idea for the installation arose from a desire to develop an aesthetic corresponding to the scientific research and the artist's attempts to envision a three dimensional image of molecular structure of Sirtuine.

Representing the universe of the infinitely small through the use of different media and scale the artist enters an almost spiritual domain. The installation develops an iconography of infinite search for eternal youth and gives a physical dimension to the mortal desire to pursue a vain hope of finding a formula of “elixir of life”, a source of immortality. Although Penso’s piece can be clearly and objectively perceived, at the end it cannot avoid creating different connections in our brain and posing questions. What would it mean if average life time expectancy was much higher? What consequences would it have if humanity had overcome natural limitations? What is the value of genetic memory and how does it shape people’s lives? Through meditation on the constantly changing and evolving biological form, the installation offers the viewer an inquisitive space between art and science to reflect upon genetic heritage and the essence of human existence.

The Flat - Massimo Carasi
Via Paolo Frisi, 3
Milan 20129 Italy
Ph. +39 025 8313809
theflat-carasi@libero.it
www.carasi.it

Opening hours
Tuesday - Saturday
From 2pm to 7.30pm or by appointment