Italian artist Mimmo Paladino’s compelling prints

“There are no symbols in my works” insists Mimmo Paladino. “I have nothing to do with symbols, and if symbols seem to crop up nevertheless it is because the work has surpassed its maker.”

Paladino's intent is to freeze the image and strip it of its original meaning. And yet his artwork, filled with fragments of objects and figures, seems to be highly symbolic and expressive.

The McMaster Museum of Art presents, from April 9-May 28, a selection of Paladino's enigmatic prints from the University's permanent collection which highlight the radical images and techniques that he favours.

Based in Benvenuto and Milan, Italy, Paladino is known internationally for his challenging and dramatic artworks. His approach to printmaking involves the aggressive manipulation of a combination of media — embossing, woodcut, etching, drypoint and screenprinting, often drawn directly on the metal plate, lithographic stone or woodblock. The scale of the prints shifts from the intimate to the monumental. In addition, he adds various unorthodox
materials, such as silver glitter, sand or other objects, to the pulled images.

As a complement to the Mimmo Paladino prints, the Museum will present a small exhibition of historical Italian prints and drawings by artists including Domenico Campagnola, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Salvator Rosa and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. All are drawn from
the University art collection and represent both donations and purchases.

There will be a lunchtime talk about this exhibition on Tuesday, April 11 at 12:30 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend.