Nicola Guastamacchia moves between the realms of art, law and politics to explore the ideological contradictions inherent to established historical narratives and geographical constructions. Looking at the mutating intersections of the European, Mediterranean and global landscapes, his projects combine a conceptual approach with juridical frameworks, to track down the genealogies of symbols, traditions and habits dangerously taken as granted. Inspired by ideals of inclusion and cultural hybridization, his practice encourages a conscious observation of the contemporary demise of national forms of identity, and their institutional and hegemonic implications. Each project is dedicated to witness momentous events of our present and provide interpretative clues to critically approach them. Ultimately, the idea that there is a revolutionary potential to contemporary art, which may not take the shape of revolutions as we learned to imagine them, is what inspires the artist’s personal and artistic path.
Co-director, In-ruins residency, Calabria, Italy
Co-founder, VOGA art project, Bari, Italy
selected TEXTS
Selected Exhibitions
Jun 2023 Non ci Resta che Volare | Osservatorio Futura, Torino
Oct 2022 Mare Magnum Nostrum | Fondazione Ducci, Fez
Sept 2022 XIV Premio Nocivelli | Palazzo Martinengo, Verolanuova
Jul 2022 Codici Naturali | Torre Pallotta, Altomonte
Mar 2022 In Varietate Concordia | Linea Project, Lecce [SOLO SHOW]
Dec 2021 Nicola Guastamacchia | Italian Cultural Institute, Tunis [SOLO SHOW]
Jul 2021 32 Metri Quadri di Mare (Mediterraneo) | Fondazione Museo Pino Pascali, Polignano a Mare [SOLO SHOW]
Oct 2021 Manifesto 3D | Balloon Project / Centro Studi Gobetti, Turin
Sept 2019 From Our Distant Proximity | Ambasciata Italiana / GulerSanat Gallery, Ankara
Nov 2018 2018 (Manifesto) | Italian Cultural Institute, Londra [SOLO SHOW]
Jun 2018 Volume I | Astra Residency, Spoleto
Feb 2018 Studioless | Incheon Art Platform, Seoul
Sept 2017 Water is Wet | The Stanley Picker Gallery, London
Aug 2016 Marginalia | Labor Gallery, Budapest
Residencies, Workshops and Conferences
Aug-Oct 2022 'Mare Magnum Nostrum residency' | Fondazione Ducci, Fez
Apr-Jul 2022 'A cielo aperto' residency | Ass. Culturale Vincenzo De Luca, Latronico
Jul 2021 'Art in the Public Space' | KORA - Contemporary Arts Centre, Lecce
Feb 2020 'Traguardare' workshop with BIANCO-VALENTE | Italian Cultural Institute / Harabel Gallery, Tirana
Jun 2019 'Collectives as catalists' workshop | Raven Row Gallery, London
Jun 2018 London Conference in Critical Thought | Westminster University, London
Nov 2017 Urban Encounters: ‘Cartographies: places through visual and photographic representations’ | APT Gallery, London
Jun 2017 The Contemporary Contemporary Conference | ARoS Museum, Aarhus
May 2017 Contemporary Research Intensive Workshop IUAV, Aarhus University e Liverpool John Moores University | Research Pavillion Venice
Prizes and Shortlists
2022 Premio Nocivelli, Finalist painting section, Verolanuova
2022 Exibart Prize 2021, 3rd place, Milan
2021 Un'opera per il Castello Award, Finalist, Museo del '900, Naples
2020 Cantica21 Award - Under35 selection, Italian Ministry of Culture / Italian Ministry of External Affairs, Rome
2014 NEO Art Prize, Tiranti Award for Sculpture, Manchester
2014 Christies' Education Trust Award, University of Glasgow
2013 COMBAT Prize, Finalist Sculpture Section, Livorno
2012 Laguna Art Prize, Finalist Under 25 Section, Venice
Education
2021 Course of Art and Politics, Basis voor Actuele Kunst (BAK), Utrecht
2015 — 2017 MFA in Fine Art, Kingston School of Art, London
2014 — 2015 Mlitt in Modern and Contemporary Art, University of Glasgow
2009 — 2014 BLL+MLL in Business Law, Università di Bari, Italy
Publications
May 2023 "Archivalia", In-ruins, link
Jan 2022 "Non mi toccare: Anna Ill e il corpo come misura", Forme Uniche, online
Jun 2021 "Storia di un incidente e delle sue vite precedenti: una conversazione con Nicola Lorini", Forme Uniche, online
Jan 2021 "On the legacy of street resistance: A conversation with Marinella Senatore" in Flash Art: PUBLIC ART 2666, online
Nov 2018 "Biennials, Triennials and Documenta" in Stenberg Press: The Contemporary Condition Series | Contemporary Research Workshop, Berlino
Nov 2017 "Keeping the rock rolling” in JAWS Journal Vol. 3, Intellect Books, Londra
Jun 2017 "The extemporary contemporary" in The Contemporary Contemporary Conference, Aarhus University, https://contemporaneity.au.dk/conference
Jan 2016 "London (behind the walls) in PeaProposals Spotlight series # 1, https://peaproposals.co.uk/Nicola-Guastamacchia