Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen

The artistic practices of Alfredo Aceto and Denis Savary - both of whomlive in the Romandie and maintain friendly relations - are as close as theyare different. What they have in common is that they twist existing formsor imagine new ones across different media and charge them with unexpectedmeanings. In their first joint exhibition «Ambarabà Ciccì Coccò», the twoartists create a fragmentary installation in which different layers ofcultural signs are brought together. The title of the exhibition, borrowedfrom an Italian counting-out rhyme, is a linguistic expression of whatpermeates the spaces: An arrangement of myriad signs that evokeassociations and condense into narratives. The works slipperily elude cleardesignation and - like the fantasised words 'Ambarabà Ciccì Coccò' - feedon their multiple levels of meaning. Forms and functions are inspired by awide variety of sources, including art historical myths about KurtSchwitters or the mythical creature Gargoyle, airports or bathrooms. Thisdetachment from and oscillation between fixed meanings allows for a certainfreedom in relating to the works and in the connections that can beestablished between them.

New and existing works by both artists, as well as works produced together,are combined and activated in an installative way. In the process,unexpected connections emerge and their artistic modes of production arerethought as collaborations and as possible interventions in each other'sproduction. Functions and associations overlap: works become supports forsculptures, artistic interventions transfer memories of the everyday into anarrative dimension. In the process, Aceto and Savary show that furnitureare both objects of daily use and socially constructive factors. Beds thusread as settings for recreation and as signs of inner states of mind.

Despite its absence, the body plays an essential role in the exhibition.It appears implicitly in various forms and manifestations – for examplelinguistically as a sound poem (Savary) or as a logopaedic tool used forpracticing articulation (Aceto). Thus, the body cannot be read in isolationbut in connection with its environment, especially since it appears as aconverging field of and possible scope for action. It is through the bodythat the forces acting on it are revealed and vice versa. In «AmbarabàCiccì Coccò», Aceto and Savary create a visible result of such forces toenable a new perspective on both their work and the world that surroundsthem.

Alfredo Aceto (*1991, Turin/IT) lives and works in Lausanne/CH.He studied at École Cantonal d'art de Lausanne (ECAL), Lausanne/CH and atThe Mountain School of Art, Los Angeles/US. Solo- and double exhibitions(selection): Hit, Geneva/CH (2021); Kunst Raum Riehen, Riehen/CH (2020);Laurence & Friends, Geneva/CH (2020); Galerie Lange + Pult, Zurich/CH(2019); Istituto Svizzero, Milan/IT (2019); Dittrich & Schlechtriem,Berlin/DE (2018); Lateral Art Space, Cluj-Napoca/ROU (2018); Andersen'sContemporary, Copenhagen/DNK (2017); Associazione Barriera, Turin/IT(2016); Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva/CH (2015). Group exhibitions(selection): Häusler Contemporary, Zurich/CH (2019); Galerie SébastienBertrand, Geneva/CH (2019); Galleria Gio Marconi, Milan/IT (2016);Artissima, Turin/IT (2016); Kunsthaus Glarus, Glarus/CH (2015); LISTE,Bugada & Cargnel, Basel/CH (2015).

Denis Savary (*1981, Granges-près-Marnand/CH) lives and works in Geneva/CH.He studied at École Cantonal d'art de Lausanne (ECAL), Lausanne/CH.Solo exhibitions (selection): Galerie Maria Bernheim, Zurich/CH (2021);Musée des Beaux-Arts, La Chaux-de-Fonds/CH (2019); Galerie Xippas,Geneva/CH (2017); Centre culturel suisse, Paris/FR (2016); Mamco, Geneva/CH(2015); Kunsthalle Bern, Berne/CH (2012); Kunsthaus Pasquart, Biel/CH(2011). Group exhibitions (selection): Art en plein air, Môtiers 2020,Môtiers/CH (2020); Istituto Svizzero, Rome/IT (2019); Leopold Museum,Vienna/AT (2019); Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich/CH (2018); Centre d’ArtContemporain - La Synagogue de Delme, Delme/FR (2018); Kunsthaus Glarus,Glarus/CH (2017); Museo Pietro Canonica in villa Borghese, Rome/IT (2017);Kunstmuseum Bern, Berne/CH (2017); Swiss Institute, New York/US (2015),Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris/CH (2014).

The exhibition by Alfredo Aceto and Denis Savary is supported by Pro Helvetia, SchweizerKulturstiftung, Kanton Genf and Kanton Waadt.

The Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen is supported by Stadt St.Gallen, Kulturförderung Kanton St.Gallen,Swisslos, Susanne und Martin Knechtli-Kradolfer-Stiftung, E. Fritz und Yvonne Hoffmann-Stiftung, Ernst und Olga Gubler-Hablützel Stiftung, Dr. Georg und Josi Guggenheim-Stiftung,Martel AG and Kulturförderung Appenzell Ausserrhoden. The educational programme is made possibleby Raiffeisen.