Exhibitions

 

GALLERY ETHER is pleased to announce BESTIE, a new solo-exhibition by Tokyo-based Italian artist Sante Visioni, to be held from Saturday, September 20th through Saturday, October 11th.

In “BESTIE”, Sante Visioni’s third solo-exhibition held at GALLERY ETHER, the artist delves into the complex relationship between human nature and the animalistic instincts that lie within us. Through a series of paired paintings, the artist explores the duality of human traits, using animals as metaphors for qualities such as loyalty, wisdom, courage, and intelligence. Each pair of works represents the delicate balance between virtue and vice, with one piece offering a depiction of the positive trait, while its counterpart portraying the darker, untamed side. Playing on the double meaning of "bestie", which in English refers to a best friend, while in Italian, it means beasts, the exhibition challenges viewers to reflect on the ever-present struggle between "unleashing" these powerful characteristics and "taming" them, emphasizing the fine line between strength and destruction, freedom and chaos. Drawing from animal symbolism and the metaphor of inner demons, Sante Visioni's work prompts introspection on how we navigate our primal urges in the pursuit of balance and self-control. The paintings reveal that the act of mastering these forces is a dance—one that is never fully resolved, but continually negotiated. This exhibition invites the audience to confront their own dualities and the shadowy parts of themselves that remain untamed.

Artists

Sante Visioni

Having graduated as an Industrial Engineer from the University of Florence (Italy), Sante Visioni's artistic exploration mainly focuses on the concept of 'balance'. By investigating the tension which can be created by opposite forces, he explores how such contrasts can be used to express our inner feelings. While keeping this at the core of his production, he aims at providing immersive experiences which go beyond the pure visual display, by letting both the audience and himself also engage with sound and other mediums. This exploration of interaction, which often enters into the scope of physical contact, had a fundamental inception in 2010, when he became a member of DPG, an Italian based electro-punk band, and started painting during live acts surrounded by the crowd. The spontaneity and immediacy of those moments are still a vivid part of his creative process.

Strongly believing in the power of mutual influence, even between fields usually disconnected, he pursues projects and collaborations with other artists, fostering the opportunity for the community to delve into hybrid outcomes. Besides his studio activity, he carries on live performances and street interventions, while also collaborating with established brands. 

Sante Visioni currently lives and works in Tokyo.