Carlo Zinelli | Continuous Vision

An exponent of Art Brut in Italy and a visual reference still to be discovered, Carlo Zinelli (1916-1974) was a disruptive artist, distant from any pre-established movement: his works mixed elements from everyday life with dreamlike, sometime magical, visions, and they continue to surprise with their great relevance. The book Carlo Zinelli Visione continua – Continuous Vision, edited by Luca Massimo Barbero, presents a body of work created between 1958 and 1970, belonging to the Fondazione Cariverona collection: mostly double-sided works, reproduced on both sides in the book, respecting one of the peculiarities of Zinelli’s modus operandi.

Essays by Luca Massimo Barbero and Lorenza Roverato expand on the work of this still secret artist, with a unique biographical story: after taking part in the Spanish Civil War, Carlo was hospitalised in the asylum of San Giacomo della Tomba, having been diagnosed with schizophrenia. His work, however, was independent of his illness and must be freed from the cage of therapeutic art: Zinelli was an artist to all intents and purposes, with a pioneering style that reaffirms the value of the image as a vehicle of free expression, moved – albeit unconsciously – by the same spirit of innovation of the avant-gardes.

In addition to works arranged by thematic groups and critical contributions, the book features a chronology of the artist’s life and a summary of the works presented, and it is published to mark the exhibition of the same name produced by the Comune di Mantova, Fondazione Palazzo Te and Fondazione Cariverona Cultura, from 17 March to 9 June 2019 at Palazzo Te.