Silvio Wolf
Silvio Wolf was born in Milan, Italy in 1952, where he lives and works.
He studied Philosophy and Psychology in Italy and Photography and Visual Arts in London, where he received the Higher Diploma in Advanced Photography at the London College of Printing.
From 1977 to 1987 he used photography to explore the laws, language and two-dimensional nature of the image. His work has moved in directions different from those of tradition, which favoured the documentary and narrative value of the photographic image. Instead, he has pursued a more subjective, metaphorical view of reality.
In this period he made polyptychs and large-format works which have been shown in Italy and abroad, including Aktuell ‘83 in Munich and Documenta VIII, in 1987, in Kassel.
From the end of the 1980s to the present he has gradually introduced new languages in his work, using the moving image, still projections, light and sound, either individually or in combinations.
His works have moved away from the pure two-dimensional format of photography to involve architectural space and the specificities of the places in which he operates, creating multimedia projects and sound installations. In his site-specific projects, as in all his photo-based work, the issues of limit, absence and elsewhere are always central.
He has created temporary and permanent installations in galleries, museums and public spaces in Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.
In 2009 he was invited to participate in the 53rd Venice Biennale.
He teaches Photography at the School of Visual Arts of the European Institute of Design in Milan, and is Visiting Professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Solo Exhibitions (Selection)
2011
Silvio Wolf On the Threshold, PAC Mailand
2009
Prima del Tempo, Galleria Nicoletta Rusconi, Milan, Italy
Insight: Photography and Video by Silvio Wolf, The Gallery of the Italian Cultural Institute, San Francisco, CA
2008
Voyager, Robert Mann Gallery, New York
Immagini dell’Invisible, with Jean Odermatt, Istituto Svizzero, Rome, Italy
La Doppia Vita, Auditorium Conciliazione, Rome, Italy
2007
L’Invisible, Fotografia Italiana, Milan, Italy
2006
Paradiso, Galleria Gottardo, Lugano
Thresholds, Robert Mann Gallery, New York
Scala Zero, Italian Academy at Columbia University, New York
John 14, Biblioteca Cantonale, Bellinzona
2005
Screens and Mirrors, Arendt & Medernach, Luxembourg
2004
Scala Zero, Fotografia Italiana, Milan
2003
Le Due Porte, Fotografia Italiana, Milan
2001
Scala Zero, Galerie Clairefontaine, Luxembourg
Fondazione del Tempo, Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella
Double Breath, La Chambre Blanche, Quebec City
1999
The Elsewhere, Royal Festival Hall, London
La Zone d’Ombre, Musée du Québec
Grida dal Tempio, Piazza Affari, Milan
Icons of Light, Keith Johnson, New York
1998
Luogo Parola, Chiesa Valdese, Milan
1995
Luci Bianche, Galleria Credito Valtellinese, Milan
1993
Origini, Gian Ferrari Arte Contemporanea, Milan
Belvedere 288, Galleria La Polena, Genoa
Azuleyes, Casa Cultura, Bellreguard, Valencia
1992
Condomini, Piero Cavellini
1991
Icone di Luce, Alberto Weber, Turin
Azuleyes, Pasqual Lucas Espai, Valencia
Stelle Braille, Sala CI, Milano Arte Estetica, Milan
1990
Camera Sveva, Vertical Museum, Sheraton Hotel, Bari (permanent installation)
Scale reali al Grato Soglio, Milan (three permanent installations)
1989
Generazioni di Luce, Galleria Alberto Weber, Turin
Enclave, Galleria Piero Cavellini, Milan
1988
Annunciazione Lagrange, Marginalia delle Forme d’Arte, Turin
1987
La Verità & Grande Muro Occidentale, Civitella d’Agliano, Viterbo (permanent installations)
1984
Mailand Aktuell, Galerie Van Marwich, Munich
1983
Acqua, Studio Marconi, Milan
Spazio Mentale, Galerie Perspektief, Rotterdam
1982
Spazio Mentale, Mercato del Sale, Milan
1981
Maroc, Galerie Medamothi, Montpellier
Collections
Centre Canadien d’Architecture, Montreal, Canada
F.R.A.C. Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse, France
Städtische Kunsthalle, Recklinghausen, Germany
Civico Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
Museo d’Arte Paolo Pini, Milan, Italy
Collezione Comunale, Biella, Italy
Collezione Comunale, Capo d’Orlando, Italy
Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea, Umbertide, Italy
Centro Studi e Archivio della Comunicazione, Parma, Italy
Museo d’Arte Contemporanea all’aperto, Maglione, Italy
Galleria Comunale d’Arte Contemporanea, Scafati, Italy
I.V.A.M., Valencia, Spain
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Bibliography
Michael Amy Silvio Wolf: Voyager
- in Art in America, Ed. Brant Publications, New York, 2008
Joanne Bernstein The Elsewhere
- in The Elsewhere, Ed. South Bank Centre, London, 1999
Eric Bryant The Indecisive Image
- in ARTnews, Ed. Esterow ARTnews, New York, 2008
Martina Corganti Conversazione con Silvio Wolf
- in Arte e Cronaca, 1987
Tiziana Conti Silvio Wolf: L’Epifania della luce
- in Titolo, 10/1992, Benucci Editore, Perugia
Nathaly Dufour Décortiquer l’image
- in Les Arts a Québec, ed. Devoir, Québec, 13/7/1999
Vittorio Fagone L’abbagliante spiraglio d’una visione futura
- in Light Specific, Ed. Nuovi Strumenti, Brescia, 1995
Gigliola Foschi Il convivio delle parole
- in Less, Ed. 5 Continents, Milano, 2006
Enrico Lunghi Silvio Wolf, Chantier/Marché
- in L’Art e la Ville, Ed. Université de Liége, Liegé, 2000
Marco Meneguzzo Quadro! Luce!
- in Light Specific, Ed. Nuovi Strumenti, Brescia, 1995
Minjung Lee Space’s Inside and Outside
- in Monthly Photography, Ed. Monthly Photo, 2008
Sylvie Parent Silvio Wolf
- in Entre image et Matière, Ed. Incontri Internazionali d’Arte, Roma, 2000
Augusto Pieroni Silvio Wolf
- in Hotshoe, Ed. Hotshoe International UK, London, 2007
A. C. Quintavalle Commento a una poesia di Silvio Wolf
- in Messa a fuoco, Ed. Feltrinelli, Milano, 1983
Francesca Pasini La fluidità, la luce e lo sconfinamento
- in Paradiso, Ed. Contrasto e Galleria Gottardo, Lugano, 2006
Pierre Restany Civitella d’Agliano ha scoperto la sua verità
- in Domus, Ed. Domus, Milano, 1989
Lyle Rexer The Gate to the Threshold
- in Paradiso, Ed. Contrasto – Galleria Gottardo, Lugano, 2006
Silvio Wolf
- in The Edge of Vision, Ed. Aperture, New York 2009
Giuliana Scimè Silvio Wolf
in Perspektief, Ed. Perspektief, Rotterdam, 1983
Franco Vaccari La frontiera labile
- in Spazio Mentale, Ed. Ilford, 1981
Lontane origini di Silvio Wolf
- in Le Due Porte, Ed. Fotografia Italiana, Milano, 2003
Roberta Valtorta Il teatro come luogo del vedere
- in Scala Zero, Ed. Fotografia Italiana, Milano, 2004
Giorgio Verzotti Silvio Wolf
- in Cimal, Arte Internacional, Ed. Cimal Internacional, Valencia, 1991
Origini di Silvio Wolf
- in Origini, Ed. Claudia Gian Ferrari, Milano, 1993
Silvio Wolf
- in l’Invisibile, Ed. Fotografia Italiana, Milano, 2007
