The Icario Art Project

PIETRO RUFFO & MAURIZIO SAVINI

The artworks exhibition of Pietro Ruffo and Maurizio Savini opened the season of art at Icario winery in 2010. From his physical way of drawing reminiscent of the most illustrious Italian tradition, enabling him to examine with precision even aspects of the sensitive universe that are not immediately perceivable, Pietro Ruffo, an architecture graduate, tackles large-scale installations and videos, moving freely among various potential forms of expression. In Savini’s artworks, on the other hand, the idea of bizarre, surreal sculpture blends with social and political factors, especially in his spatial creations and installations. 

Maurizio Savini, wood, enamel and Corten steel 525x140x80 cm. The visitor is received by the sculpture situated outside, oversized and therefore without a functional reference of livability. The relationship between the work and the space, and the dialogue installed with the surrounding landscape guide the audience to the understanding of  this primary structure.

ELISEO MATTIACCI 

A protagonist of contemporary art, sculptor Eliseo Mattiacci, born in 1940, has been attracted by metals and by the spectacular process of welding since he was young. Critics consider Mattiacci'sartistic career  starting from the 1960s, when the artist was close to the international language of the Arte Povera and minimalism, arriving at the sculptures of the 1980s that were so light and sensitive that they could fit into any context, interacting with them. Mattiacci's artistic path is blended with episodes in his life and the historical events of his time: the supporting structure of the work in fact consists of an illustrated chronology offering readers numerous testimonies of the age, comprising photographs, texts, invitations, books and poetic declarations.
ForIcario, Mattiacci has devised an itinerary that ideally slopes upwards, seeking precisely those ‘possible worlds’ with a series of works that focuses on the relationship of man with the cosmos, territories like wine, business withart and territory. ‘Le Vie del cielo’ (1996), placed in the front garden of the winery, represents a  the earth itself crossed by two rails which lead the visitor to the interstellar and celestial space; ‘Corpo Celeste’ (2008, created for this exhibition), a mountain of metallic shavings in an inner  space that appears to be a model of the universe, or the universe before it began, during the original chaos;‘Fabbrica del Cosmo’ (2004-2008), a group of drawings which look like the ‘kitchen of the universe’, representing all the energies and forces that human imaginary places in the cosmos.

This beautiful painting "A Celebration of Wine and Territory", is a vibrant tribute to the deep connection between the Montepulciano landscape and its renowned wine. Created by a close friend of the owner, Dr. Helmut Rothenberger, the piece depicts a still life of grapes, fruits, cheeses, and a bottle of Icario wine, all set against an abstract, textured backdrop that mimics the rolling vineyards of the region. The bold colors and intricate details celebrate the harmony between nature and the craft of winemaking. The artist captures the essence of Montepulciano, where each bottle of wine tells the story of the land. This artwork embodies the passion and heritage that make Icario wines exceptional.

“Montepulciano site specific”

Born in Milan in 1944, Gabriele Basilico was an Italian photographer who defined himself as "a measurer of space". He originally studied to become an architect before starting his career in photography. His initial works focused on traditional landscape photography, but he later shifted his focus to architectural photography due to the influence of his previous studies in architecture. He achieved international fame in 1982 with his photographic report on the industrial areas of Milan, "Ritratti di Fabbriche, Sugarco".In the mid 1980s he was part of a group of photographers commissioned by the French Government to document the transformation of the Transalpine landscape, while in 1991 his photographs helped to document the effects of war on the Lebanese capital of Beirut with the work "Beirut 1991".He was awarded at the 1996 Venice Biennale. His last public work was showcased in December 2012, at the inauguration of a new square in Milan. He died in 2013.The majority of Basilico's work was done using a traditional viewfinder camera and black and white film.

Icario and the Town Council Administration were both committed to help Montepulciano promotion, develop its culture and environmental resources, create an interest in less explored field of art. In ‘Montepulciano site specific’, it is showed how the town is not simply the ‘cradle’ or the setting for works of art, but also the subject matter and protagonist. Basilico’s pictures portrait each corner, building, road, site of this beautiful hilltown, collecting them together in a well-structured event with  a perfect combination of art and architecture, representing also a new awareness of the surrounding environment to deliver to new generation.

Sabrina Haunsperg was born in 1980 in Hallein near Salzburg. From 2001 she studied at the Dusseldorf Art Academy with Helmut Federle, Siegfried Anzinger and Herbert Brandl. From 2008 she was a master student of Herbert Brandl. In 2009 she obtained the USA Scholarship of the DAAD, the Max Ernst Scholarship from the city of Brühl and the special prize of the Foundation VordembergeGildewart (Switzerland). Other achievements were the nomination for the Zurich Art Prize of the HausKonstruktiv in Zurich and the CC Andratx Mallorca Art-in-Residence Program in 2013. Since 2011 the artist has a teaching position at the Technical University of Dortmund. She lives and works in Dusseldorf.Works by this young artist are in national and international collections; in 2016 Icario hosted  “InVisib(i)le”.

Sara Goldschmied (1975) and Eleonora Chiari (1971) formed the duo Goldiechiari in 2001. Since 2014 they have worked under the name Goldschmied& Chiari in Milan, where they live. Under this acronym, they work with varied media; photography, video, performance and installation. They have achieved national and international recognition, working with institutions and museums. Theyparticipated in the third edition of The Nanjing International Art Festival, The Fear Society, a collateral event of the 53rd Venice Biennal (2009), the first edition of Dublin Contemporary, Dublin (2011) and the fifth edition of Video Zone International Video Art Biennial – Center for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv (2010).
In 2015, their works were selected by the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington D.C. and by the Museo del Novecento in Milan for the exhibition Organic Matters – Women to Watch 2015, NMVA, Washington D.C. (2015). A number of recent works have been documented in their latest catalogue: Goldschmied& Chiari, Ladémocratieest illusion(2016). In 2011, Icario hosted the exhibition Nympheas; floating on the water like the famous portraits of Monet, in the artists’ thought they are change in simple plastic bags abandoned in a river stream – a hint to reflect on pollution topic.

This vibrant painting, a gift from the artist Susanne Peiker, stands as a stunning tribute to both the Rothenberger family and their love for Icario wines. Peiker, a close friend of the family, chose to depict an abstract cluster of grapes in rich purples and golds, symbolizing the heart of winemaking: the vineyard. The swirling brushstrokes and shimmering hues evoke the lively energy and beauty of the grape-growing process, merging nature and creativity.

Hanging above the wine barrels in the Icario winery, this piece perfectly complements the rustic and refined atmosphere of the space, acting as a colorful reminder of the passion and artistry involved in winemaking. The bond between the Rothenberger family, their friendship with Peiker, and their shared love for fine wine is immortalized through this beautiful piece of art, making it not just a decoration, but a meaningful connection between friends, wine, and nature.