Silvana Martignoni
Via XX Settembre, 14
Busto Arsizio 21052
Italy
Tel./Fax +39 0331322997 +39 3383961823
E-Mail:
Website: www.silvanamartignoni.it
Skype Tino.Pane
Silvana Martignoni was born in Busto Arsizio. She attended the Art High School and the Brera Academy of Fine Arts (Milan), in 1980, with her final thesis on the “visionary” poet and engraver William Blake. In the early years of her artistic activity she focused on the purest engraving techniques (drypoint, mezzotint, etching). She immediately undertook research on plant form, expressed with contemporary attention. Her prints represent transfigured icons, the result of experiences in nature observed and of abstraction that are mixed in the persistence of memory. She has a passion for mezzotint, an ancient technique that lends itself to her design, subtle, strong and decisive , enriched in tonal values close to painting. Recently Silvana comes into contact with the world of the “ex libris”, which she appreciates for its historical, literary and poetic content.
Main Public collections:
Fundaciò Joan Mirò, Barcelona, Spain.
Raccolta Stampe Fondazione Sartori, Mantova, Italy.
Pratt Museum, New York, U.S.A.
Gabinetto delle Stampe, Bagnacavallo (RA), Italy.
Collezione Grafica ed Ex Libris, Casale Monferrato Italy.
Museum of Fine Arts, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
Collection AMAC; Chamalières, France.
Fondazione Rotary Club, Acqui Terme, Italy.
Collezione Stampe del Museo Civico, Cremona, Italy.
Frederikshavn Kunstmuseum & Exlibrissamling, Denmark.
Art Museum of Guangzhou, China.
Collezione Museo Palazzo Marliani Cicogna, Busto Arsizio, Italy.
China Printmaking Museum, Guanlan, China.
Memberships in artistic organizations:
The International Mezzotint Society, Miami Florida, U.S.A.
Associazione Nazionale Incisori Contemporanei, Montebelluna (TV), Italy.
AIE Associazione Italiana Ex Libris, Milano, Italy.
Association française pour la connaissance de l’ex-libris (AFCEL) – Saint Mihiel.
Deutsche Exlibris-Gesellschaft e.V. (DEG).
Sphere of artistic interests:
Starting from the early years of my artistic activity I focused my interest on the purest engraving techniques (drypoint, mezzotint, etching) and black and white drawings. In the recent years my language approaches painting too, embarking on a search based on colour and brightness in the splendor of the natural world. I paint stories in pearl colours with a technique of thin glazes which contributes to the realization of an intense dreamy effect.
However the intaglio printing, and particularly the mezzotint, corresponds to my main sphere of interest.
Experience in mezzotint:
Since the 80’s I started working on mezzatinta when it was generally an adandoned technique. I have always used the traditional method of graining by rocker only, without resorting to gimmicks like aquatint or graining by mechanics or worst by immersion of iron plates in acid.
The effect of black velvet, so elegant and refined, can only be achieved with the purity of the plot drawn from the rocker.
Artistic credo:
My works are inspired by a research on the nature, seen through a contemporary attention. I love inventing some unusual landscapes bringing together the different vegetable worlds, or engraving some transfigured natural forms, the result of the experiences related to the observation of nature and abstraction, which are mixed in the persistence of the memory.
The techniques that I particularly love are the mezzotint and the drypoint. The first one is very complex and difficult but allows you to achieve the emotional impact, full of passion and preciousness. The second one translates into soft signs an analytical love for detail and processing poetically felt.
However I do not neglect the etching, my starting technique and the focal point for any artist who will devote himself to the art of engraving.
Awards and recognition:
2018 winner ”Excellent work” 2nd Jogja International Miniprint Biennale (JMB) 2018 Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
2018 2nd prize, 9th International Small Graphic Art, Gdańsk Community Foundation, Poland.
2018 1st prize, “9° Concorso Internazionale ex libris “Biblioteca di Bodio Lomnago”,Varese, Italy.
2017 2nd prize, Concorso Internazionale Exlibris “Il Bosco Stregato” , Bosia, Italia.
2017 “The Third Exlibris Expo Exchange in Chang Zhou Wu Jin Exlibris Museum”, Cina: awarded“Excellent Exlibris”.
2017 “VIII Bienal Internacional de Ex-Libris Contratalla dedicados al vin”, Tarragona, Spain: awarded “mencione onorifica”.
2016 “4th Guangzhou International Exlibris and Mini – Prints Biennial 2016”, Chinaawarded “Excellent Mini – Prints” – awarded “Excellent Exlibris”.
2016 Concurso Internacional de EX-Libris del Quijote, Tarragona, Spain, awarded “mencione onorifica”.
2016 “Chang Zhou Wu Jin The Second Exlibris Expo Exchange”,China: awarded “Excellent Exlibris”.
2016 winner ”Excellence work” 2nd Jogja International Miniprint Biennale (JMB) 2016” Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
2015 “Chang Zhou Wu Jin The 1st International Prints & Exlibris EXPO”, China: awarded “Excellent Exlibris”.
2014 3rd prize, 7° Concorso Internazionale ex libris “Biblioteca di Bodio Lomnago”, Varese, Italy.
2013 3rd prize (bronze) “Ju Qi Cup” The 1st International Prints & Exlibris EXPO ” Shanghai, China.
1983 Grand Prix“ XXII edition the Joan Mirò International Drawing Award”, the Fundaciò Joan Mirò in Barcellona, Spain.
1982 2nd prize XIII edizione del Premio Diomira di disegno, Milan, Italy.
Major Ex Libris awards:
2013 “Ju Qi Cup, The 1st International Prints & Exlibris EXPO ” Shanghai, China: awarded “Bronze prize”.
2014 “7° Concorso Internazionale ex libris Biblioteca di Bodio Lomnago”, Varese, Italy: awarded “ 3rd prize and honourable mention”.
2014 “The 3rd Guangzhou International Exlibris and Mini print Biennial 2014”, China: awarded “Excellent Exlibris”.
2014 ”The 8th International Exlibris Fu Xian Zhai, Shanghai”, China: awarded “Excellent Exlibris”.
2015 “Chang Zhou Wu Jin,The 1st International Prints & Exlibris EXPO”, China: awarded “Excellent Exlibris”.
2016 “4th Guangzhou International Exlibris and Mini – Prints Biennial 2016”, China: awarded “Excellent Mini – Prints”, awarded “Excellent Exlibris”.
2016 “Concurso Internacional de EX-Libris del Quijote”, Tarragona, Spagna: awarded “mencione onorifica”.
2016 “Chang Zhou Wu Jin The Second Exlibris Expo Exchange”, China: awarded “Excellent Exlibris”.
2017 “International Exlibris Competiotion The Enchanted Woods. The Jungle Book and The World of Disney “, Bosia, Italy – awarded 2nd prize.
2017 “The Third Exlibris Expo Exchange in Chang Zhou Wu Jin Exlibris Museum”, China: awarded “Excellent Exlibris”.
2017 “ VIII Contratalla International Biennial of Ex-Libris dedicated to wine”, Tarragona, Spain: awarded “mencione onorifica”.
2018 “9° Concorso Internazionale ex libris “Biblioteca di Bodio Lomnago”, Varese, Italy: 1st prize.
2018 2nd prize, 9th International Ex libris and Small Graphic Art, Gdańsk, Community Foundation, Poland.
Recent Participation in major international graphic events:
2016 8th International Printmaking Biennial Douro 2016, Douro, Portugal.
2016 1ère Biennale Internationale de l’Estampe de Dreux, Dreux, France.
2016 16th International Biennial of Small Graphics and Exlibris – Ostrów Wielkopolski 2016, Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland.
2016 2nd International Exlibris Competition Varna 2016, Varna, Bulgaria.
2016 9thTriennial of Small Graphic Forms Vilnius 2016, Lithuania.
2017 IX Rassegna Internazionale di Incisione -Il gesto segreto / The secret gesture – Cremona 2017, Italy.
2017 3rd Global Print 2017, Douro, Portugal.
2017 10 ͤ Triennale Mondiale de l’Estampe, 2017, Chamalières, France.
2017 XIII Biennale Internazionale per l’Incisione-Premio Acqui 2017, Acqui Terme (AL), Italy.
2017 Salon International del Gravure de Morhange 2017, Morhange, France.
2017 Fourth International Mezzotint Festival, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
2017 16th International Triennial of SMALL GRAPHIC FORMS, ŁÓDŹ 2017, Poland.
2017 19th International Print Biennial Varna 2017, Bulgaria.
2018 KLIMEX 18 Kuala Lumpur Miniprint Exhibition 2018, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2018 B.I.A.L. 2018, Saint-Mihiel Cité Bénédictine & Ville du Livre, France.
2018 IPPAS International Printmaking and Paper Art Show, Plaza Indonesia, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia.
2018 Prism: Khoros -17 artists from Prism Print International, Clifford Chance Gallery Docklands, London, UK.
2019 “The Blue Rocker Project”, 28 artists supporting Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) Association’s campaign around the world.
2019 Fifth International Mezzotint Festival, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
2019 Ural Print Triennial, Ufa, Russia.
2019 PRINT & PRESENT,the group print exhibition of 6 winners of the 3rd Jogja International Miniprint Biennale (JIMB) 2018, Yogyakarta 55141, Indonesia.
2019 Prism 11, INOAC Namikidori Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
2020 Prism 12, Nordens Ljus Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden.
2020 The Wondering mind 2 – Chris and Zora’s new mezzotint friends, Gallery Épreuve d‘Artiste, Antwerp, Belgium.
