The Bonioni Arte Gallery of Reggio Emilia (Corso Garibaldi, 43) presents, from 4 September to 26 October 2025, the Poetic transavanguard by Mimmo Germanà (Catania, 1944 – Busto Arsizio, 1992), artist to be found and studied, called “the Italian Chagall”. Curated by Fabrizio Guerrini, the exhibition will be inaugurated on Thursday 4 September at 17.00 on the occasion of the traditional Giaréda Festival.
An artist who died prematurely at the age of forty-eight, whose historical-critical analysis is still evolving. Many cultural references between music, poetry and painting, from André Breton to Ciaikovsky, up to Chagall. His art, relegated for years in a sort of limbo between transavaggaria, naif and pop expressionism, is now the subject of a renewed interest.
At the invitation of his colleague Achille Bonito Oliva, Germanà participates in the 1980 Venice Biennale which, with Open ’80marks the official consecration of the transavaggaria. In the year in which the German pavilion hosts Georg Baselitz and Anselm Kiefer, Open ’80 He brings together artists such as Richard Artschwager, Jonathan Borofsky, Michael Buthe, Luciano
Castelli, Tony Cragg, Julian Schnabel. The Italians, in addition to Germanà, are six: Sandro Chia, Francesco Clemente, Enzo Cucchi, Nicola De Maria, Mimmo Paladino, Ernesto Tatafiore.
Compared to the other artists of the transavaggaria – writes Fabrizio Guerrini – “Germanà’s painting has its own rhythm, an original harmony that is played in the counterpoint between the thickness of” dense brush strokes “, the” dark colors “and the” strong materials “. Something else, compared to the already seen and known, to the genetic code of that itself Avant -garde in transit. Perhaps, it is here, in this originality, in this other considered, wrong, a vice of origin (but will not, sooner or later, a value?) That the art journey of Mimmo Germanà, The arcane of Sicilybecomes more karst and cryptic.
Perhaps it is here, in his Fauve and hypnotic palette, that you can find a reason why his works, beyond a “beautiful to see” do not overclose in a “beautiful to understand”. But the fault lies with those who want to stay in the comfort zones that makes you believe that a trivial thing is not trivial. The real painting, before seeing it it should be understood. At this point in the critical recovery history of Mimmo Germanà’s work, this exhibition and study mobilization comes, more appropriate than ever. The exit of the first volume of the reasoned catalog edited by Carlo Lioce and Cristiano Ragni for the Mimmo Germanà archive will also be important ».
The exhibition itinerary includes about twenty oil works on canvas and some cards, made in the eighties and nineties and characterized by a Sicilian and Fauve palette. Among his subjects, female figures transported by current dreamlikes, fiery skies, colorful winds, free and uncontrolled nature. «There is music in the art of this master outstanding And fuoriserie of the transavaggaria », concludes the curator. «He, the singer and troubadour of the transavanguard, the poetic one. Poetic transavanguard. That the time has really come to listen to the music painted by Mimmo Germanà? ».
The exhibition is included in the calendar of the twenty -first edition of the Contemporary day Promoted by Amaci – Association of Italian contemporary art museums in collaboration with the Directorate General of Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture and with the General Directorate for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Carlo Franza