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The following is a summary of Stefano Bianco’s work during a 30-year period, a description of the evolution of his art over the years.
His first atelier in a courtyard of old Milan canals’ area, Navigli, at via Pavia 8, near his home. In that area there was also a brickyard where bricks’ mixture was still worked by hand.
It was in the 70s and it was exactly with “hand- made” bricks that he started his work.
He joined bricks and fit them together as if in a jigsaw puzzle, he worked them in bush-hammer and shaped them into forms and objects, he used them as inserts in sculptures made of other materials such as tuff and iron.
His induction into Milan’s cultural circles dates back to this period: architects, musicians, graphic artists, actors thronged his studio and that led to lasting and rewarding co-operations.
Among other works, there were those crafted for the house of a well-known Milan hair-stylist, published on
CASA VOGUE
in September 1978
This period lasted till the eighties.
Bricks were not kneaded by hand anymore, not even in the old brickyard. The results of new kneadings were manufactures too friable and not malleable and this made it impossible to continue using bush-hammer.
So Stefano Bianco turned to other materials: tuff, pietra serena or Sarnico stone, Vicenza stone, travertine.
He made then the first shy attempts at sculptures in Carrara marble, in almost reverential awe of that highly valued material, become illustrious thanks to his great predecessors.
At that moment his work ranged over many fields, from figurative sculpture to integrated sculpture, to interior architecture and design; so there came fireplaces, tables, lamps, objects, facing of whole rooms, floors.
One of his works,
"DAL SEME AL FRUTTO"
(From seed to fruit), in travertine, iron and Vicenza stone was ordered him by ENICHEM Agricoltura and it was exhibited at Fieragricola in Verona.
Another work of his, in pietra serena and iron,
"TUFFATORE",
(Diver), was put on show in the Naviglio Pavese (in the canals’ area) on the first Navigli’s Day organized by the City of Milan.
A large
bas-relief-fountain
in pietra serena became the setting of a swimming pool in a villa in Valdagno.
Another sculpture from this period is "il Cavaliere". (the Knight), in pietra serena and iron. It was purchased by Jolly Hotel in 1986 and was placed for 15 years at the entrance of the Jolly Hotel President in Largo Augusto in Milan: since 2000 it has been moved to the hall of that same hotel.
Besides those mentioned, the works crafted by Stefano Bianco during the period 1980-1986 were many and varied.
Cooperation with Jolly Hotel continued and he carried out the facing and decoration of the Lotti hotel in Paris and the Palace Hotel in Turin.
The large statues in Carrara marble date back to this period: "FIGURA CORICATA" (Lying down figure) of 1987, "PAPA'" (father) of 1988, the fireplace surround in Via Moscova and the bas-reliefs in Via S. Sofia in Milan.
The end of the ‘80s and the nineties brought several difficulties to Stefano Bianco, too; first of all, the difficulty of changing atelier.
A regeneration plan was approved for Via Pavia, 8, and very different buildings would take the place of the old brickyard and the other shops.
He moved his studio to via La Spezia, 5. Despite the economic crisis affecting all sectors, Stefano Bianco was on the threshold of his artistic maturity: he freed himself from youthful awes, met and exchanged views with other artists, and put his talent at the others’ disposal.
It was exactly in 1990 that he held his sculpture lessons at the Garibaldi community centre in Milan and his work (….”the grace of a figura femminile [feminine figure] – Corriere delle Sera, 28-4-1990) crafted “live” in front of the students of Milan’s art schools, was unveiled by Milan’s councilor Mr. Parini. The sculpture is still placed under the Bramante’s loggia connecting Corso Garibaldi with Piazza Marengo.
The Carrara marble sculpture “FIGURA PRONA” (Prone figure) dates back to this period, as well as bronzes, paintings and small polychromatic sculptures.
In 1992 Stefano Bianco decided to leave his home in Milan and moved to Romagnese, beyond the Po river, in Pavia’s area, with his wife and two small sons. His atelier in Milan opened again, not only to organize exhibitions of his own works but also to let other artists use that space; so they organized the exhibition, if you can call it so, "PERDILETTO", (translator’s note: it’s a word that doesn’t exist but could be translated as “Bed-waster”, approximately), in which participated some of the great names of Italian cultural world such as Michelangelo Antonioni, Luca Formenton, Yoshi Nagasaka, Kőbi Wiesendanger, (il Giorno, 24-4-1993 – Corriere della Sera, 25-4-1993) and there was also the “TEMPIETTO DELLE ARTI” ( the Arts’ temple), a temple made by Bianco in Sarnico stone where poets and painters could perform.
In may 1994 he participated in Milan’s MIART, a Spring fair for independent artists, where he put on show some of his works in stone:
Meanwhile, Romagnese Municipality assigned him the task to create eight large bas-reliefs to be placed in the roundabout near the cemetery and which were to represent the most significant events in the history of the village.
It took the artist two years to finish the eight large figurative bas-reliefs, with a total area of 26 square metres of sculpted stone.
The placing took place in April 1995.
It is also of 1995 “L’ALTARE” (The altar) for the little church Madonna della Neve at Ossio, near Romagnese.
The sculpture of 1995 "FIGURA MASCHILE" (Male figure) in erratics was purchased by the marchioness of Malaspina and placed in the garden of her house at Zavattarello.
An exhibition with works from 1975 onwards, “RETROSPETTIVA” (Retrospective), took place at the Palazzo Dal Pozzo at Montebello della Battaglia, in Pavia province, from 12th April to 1st June 1997.
In that same year, Zavattarello municipality financed a "FONTANA BASSORILIEVO" (Bas-relief fountain) in Sarnico stone, which was then placed in Piazza Dal Verme, and assigned the artist another more important task: a large sculpture in a block three metres high of golden stone, representing a sower, "SEMINATORE" .The sculpture was unveiled at the presence of the authorities on 8 June 1997.
In the autumn of that same year the artist moved to the former stables of Castle Dal Verme of Zavattarello, an ideal and charming home within the boundary walls of the castle, in the middle of a wood and on top of a hill, bordering on the village.
The restoration works of castle Dal Verme were in progress and Stefano Bianco made all the capitals for a colonnade in a terrace, each with a different shape and all in Vicenza stone.
In 1998-99 his cooperation in the restoration of castle Dal Verme continued with works ordered by the municipality:
Some of these works can be seen in the book " OLTREPO’ E DINTORNI – Rocche, Castelli e Antiche Dimore” – pub. EDO pp. 152 – 163
Other sculptures dating back to this period are:
-
"Luigia Pallavicini caduta da cavallo"
(Luigia Pallavicini fallen from her horse) in carparo stone from Puglia region
-
"Eva"
- (Eve) in Vicenza stone
-"Angelo" (Angel) in carparo stone from Puglia region
From this period it is also the bas-relief for the village square of Valverde, a small monument to the Resistance.
In November 1999 an
Ambo
in San Gottardo stone was placed in San Luca, Pavia’s Jubilian Church. The Ambo was sculpted in the small courtyard of the nearby Church of San Priamo e San Feliciano, under the curious eyes of the dwellers of the old town centre.
A multi-cultural centre was created in a space belonging to and near the church and here the sculptor was invited to exhibit some of his works on the inauguration day of the restored church.
It is easy to see that the end of the nineties and the beginning of 2000 formed the basis for a new path in the artistic life of the sculptor, “a path he doesn’t hesitate to call “his true Path”: the rediscovery of sacred art” (monthly magazine Motta Notizie, December 2000).
After months of study and sketches he started sculpting an
altar
in Verona stone representing a pomegranate tree, symbol of St. John of God’s confraternity. It was for a church in a new building complex joined to the pre-existing building of the rest home Fatebenefratelli at Trivolzio in Pavia province.
In the building site for the enlargement of the rest home, thanks to father prior Andrea’s enthusiasm, the excitement and working atmosphere made it possible for the sculptor to succeed in finishing the difficult inlaid work of the altar as well as other church ornaments:
On 21 October 2001, five bas-reliefs in Sarnico stone representing the village’s history were placed in the Council Chamber of Albuzzano Town hall, in Pavia province.
At the beginning of 2002 Fatebenefratelli of Trivolzio ordered the final ornament for the church San Riccardo Pampuri: the reliquary to keep the Saint’s heart, in Vicenza stone.
On 25 April 2003, on the commemoration’s day of the Liberation, two bas-reliefs were unveiled at Filighera, in Pavia province. They represent the village’s history and adorn the already existing monument to the fallen, placed in the square adjacent the cemetery.
On 24 May 2003, some bricks sculpted by the artist were on show in Crema, at Marilisa Leone’s atelier, part of the event “LE TERRE DELLA TERRA” (The Earth’s soils):
In 2004 the sculptor Stefano Bianco felt again the desire to find a new space in Milan and started organizing a gallery-house, “HOME GALLERY”, near the Naviglio Pavese (in the canals’ area), as his heart was still set on that area, even after almost fifteen years.
At the moment, in the gallery-house there are on show a new series of stele-sculptures, painting-panels in mixed techniques, drinking fountains and stone ornaments, all of them exclusive creations of the artist.
On 29 July 2006, in memory of Enrico Crevani, historic mayor of Romagnese, Stele (Stele) was unveiled at the presence of local authorities and Crevani’s family who welcomed with enthusiasm the artist’s proposal to place the sculpture at the entrance of the garden conceived by Crevani himself, Giardino Alpino of Pietra Corva.
At the beginning of 2007 the sculptor was busy creating the last work needed to finish castle Dal Verme at Zavattarello: a large surround, 245 cm. x 205 cm., for the fireplace in the Entertainment Salon, sculpted in bas-relief.
During the month of August 2009 the personal exibition "Tapestries-Warps paper and other"-at the auditorium BCC San Marzano di S.Giuseppe in Grottaglie(TA).
The event promoted by the bank institute of credito ionico was sponsored by the publc administration of the town hall of Grottaglie (TA). It shows about 50 works of the known painter and sculptor who is considered among the best artists in the contemporary italian scenery.These works were divided into five sections (Small size, the great, the medium, the olympic games, the abstract).
Stefano Bianco was born in Milan on 19 May 1947 and is autodidact.
Other publications:
BAZAR ITALIA n° 4 - aprile 1978
VOGUE ITALIA - aprile 1978
VOGUE BRASILE – 1978
CASA VOGUE n° 85 - luglio-agosto 1978
VOGUE ITALIA n° 376 – maggio 1981 - pag. 210-211
CASAMICA n° 16 – 17 – 1982
DOMUS n° 655 – 1984 - pag 37 – 38 - 39
IL CAMINO Ed. Di Baio n° 52 - pag 28 – 29 – 30 - 31
IL CAMINO Ed. Di Baio n° 53 - pag 39
CASAVIVA n° 191 – 1989
BRAVACASA
