Reality? It’s a False World
- ROME (April 12, 2025) — Alessandra Tesi, a 31-year-old artist from Bologna, Italy, is gaining recognition for her evocative photographs, videos, and installations.
- Tesi's recent solo exhibitions include shows at the Castello di Rivoli,the Massimo Minini Gallery in Brescia,and the Armani Emporio in Paris.
- During a recent visit to Rome, Tesi discussed the influence of Bologna's artistic climate on her creative path."Bologna was undoubtedly a stimulating environment," Tesi said.
Alessandra Tesi: Capturing urban Spaces and Sensations Through Art
Table of Contents
- Alessandra Tesi: Capturing urban Spaces and Sensations Through Art
- Alessandra Tesi: an Artist’s Exploration of Urban Spaces and Sensations
- Who is Alessandra Tesi?
- What is Alessandra Tesi known for?
- Where has Alessandra Tesi’s work been exhibited?
- What themes does Alessandra Tesi explore in her art?
- How did Bologna’s artistic climate influence Alessandra Tesi’s work?
- What prompted Alessandra Tesi’s interest in photography?
- what role did the Institute des Hautes Etudes en art Plastique in Paris play in her career?
- How does Alessandra Tesi’s work relate to Paris?
- Can you describe Alessandra Tesi’s collaboration with firefighters?
- how does Alessandra Tesi distinguish her videos from movies?
- What is the concept behind her double video, “Butterfly”?
- How does Alessandra Tesi perceive reality in her art?
- What are some key aspects of Alessandra Tesi’s artistic approach?
ROME (April 12, 2025) — Alessandra Tesi, a 31-year-old artist from Bologna, Italy, is gaining recognition for her evocative photographs, videos, and installations. Her work, characterized by saturated colors and a close relationship with the exhibition space, explores urban environments, isolation, and specific details that evoke memories and sensations.
Recent Exhibitions and Influences
Tesi’s recent solo exhibitions include shows at the Castello di Rivoli,the Massimo Minini Gallery in Brescia,and the Armani Emporio in Paris. Currently, her pieces are featured in the “Migration” exhibition in Rome and “Paris for Stopover” at the Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville de Paris.
During a recent visit to Rome, Tesi discussed the influence of Bologna’s artistic climate on her creative path.”Bologna was undoubtedly a stimulating environment,” Tesi said. “It’s a city where many things happen. I attended the academy there and met people who became vital figures for me and continue to follow my work.”
She added that Bologna’s strong chromatic presence and painted architecture, while visually rich, eventually led her to seek experiences elsewhere. Tesi attended linguistic high school to facilitate travel and spent several months in the Netherlands, where she developed an interest in photography. ”When you travel, photography becomes a parallel journey,” she explained, noting the availability of workshops for developing photos.
Paris and the Institute des Hautes Etudes En Art Plastique
After finishing the academy, Tesi was selected to attend the Institute des Hautes Etudes en Art Plastique in Paris, founded by Pontus Hulten. She described it as a crucial transition between the academy and the art world, where she engaged with artists and critics from around the globe.
“It was an intense and fundamental passage…necessary to understand that art was really what I wanted to do,” Tesi said.
Working in Paris
Tesi has maintained a presence in Paris since 1996, drawn to the city’s vibrant atmosphere. She emphasized the importance of connecting with people outside the art world, which has allowed her to explore diverse environments. Her work exhibited at “Paris for Stopover,” for example, involved collaboration with firefighters.
“The final installation, for me, must be precise, pure,” Tesi stated. “Working with firefighters was important because they are people who go to the bottom of things, regardless of reality. It is indeed the idea of necessary that fascinates me.”
Collaboration with firefighters
Tesi initiated the project to gain access to typically inaccessible locations. she described her initial impression of firefighters as a “painted world,” noting their silver helmets with gold visors and gloves. This imagery, she said, conveyed a sense of urgency and the potential for the unexpected.
After contacting the firefighters through letters and subsequent meetings, they were intrigued by her perspective on their work. The project involved following their training for three months, resulting in seven days of filming. Tesi sought to capture the essence of water, indirectly related to fire, by filming on the Seine River with firefighters on a boat.
“It was important for me that onyl a small movement in reality took place and not that I staged everything,” Tesi said.
Videos vs.movies
Tesi distinguishes her videos from movies,emphasizing the absence of a narrative or turning point in her work. Instead, she focuses on the interplay between the support medium and the transparency of the image.
‘Butterfly’ and Aesthetic Considerations
This concept is exemplified in her double video, “Butterfly,” exhibited at the centre for contemporary arts in Rome. The work features a glass plate treated to create a translucent effect, inspired by the stained-glass windows of Chartres Cathedral. Tesi connected this imagery with the wings of butterflies, which she observed in a Paris greenhouse.
“On the one hand, you have a projection of the wing structure; on the other hand, rather, a flight of butterfly,” Tesi explained. “I had thought of migration,the theme of the exhibition,as a continuous movement and consequent adaptation.”
Tesi believes that form arises directly from the idea, reflecting her perception of reality as a “painted world.” She cites examples such as painted pipes in hotel rooms, which paradoxically become more noticeable, and the hypnotic green crosses of French pharmacies, linked to urgency and anxiety.
“There is always this attempt to camouflage, to make everything more pleasant, to embellish it…everything is communicated in an attractive way,” Tesi concluded, noting a generalized desire to soften reality.
Alessandra Tesi: an Artist’s Exploration of Urban Spaces and Sensations
Who is Alessandra Tesi?
Alessandra Tesi is a 31-year-old Italian artist from Bologna, Italy, gaining recognition for her photography, videos, and installations. Her work is known for saturated colors and a close relationship with the exhibition space, exploring urban environments, isolation, and evocative details.
What is Alessandra Tesi known for?
Alessandra Tesi is known for her art that captures urban environments, isolation, and specific details that evoke memories and sensations. Her works are characterized by:
- Evocative photography.
- Video installations.
- Use of saturated colors.
- A close relationship with the exhibition space.
Where has Alessandra Tesi’s work been exhibited?
Alessandra Tesi’s work has been showcased in various prestigious venues. Some of her solo exhibitions include:
- Castello di Rivoli.
- Massimo Minini Gallery in Brescia.
- Armani Emporio in paris.
Her work has also been part of group exhibitions, such as:
- “Migration” exhibition in Rome.
- “Paris for Stopover” at the Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville de Paris.
What themes does Alessandra Tesi explore in her art?
Alessandra Tesi’s art dives into several themes, including:
- Urban environments.
- isolation.
- Specific details that evoke memories and sensations.
How did Bologna’s artistic climate influence Alessandra Tesi’s work?
Bologna played a significant role in shaping alessandra Tesi’s creative path. She describes it as a stimulating environment where “many things happen.” She attended the academy there and met people who became vital figures in her life and career. Bologna’s strong chromatic presence and painted architecture provided strong visual inspiration, even though she eventually sought experiences elsewhere.
What prompted Alessandra Tesi’s interest in photography?
alessandra Tesi’s interest in photography developed during her travels, particularly during her time in the Netherlands after attending a linguistic high school to facilitate travel. She viewed photography as “a parallel journey” and took advantage of photography workshops.
what role did the Institute des Hautes Etudes en art Plastique in Paris play in her career?
Attending the Institute des Hautes Etudes en Art Plastique in Paris was a crucial period for Tesi. She describes it as a transition between the academy and the art world. This experience allowed her to connect with artists and critics from around the globe and solidify her commitment to art. As Tesi stated: It was an intense and essential passage…necessary to understand that art was really what I wanted to do.
How does Alessandra Tesi’s work relate to Paris?
Alessandra Tesi has maintained a presence in Paris as 1996, drawn to the city’s vibrant atmosphere. her artistic practice explores diverse environments, including collaborations with people outside the art world. For example, her work exhibited at “Paris for Stopover” involved collaborating with firefighters.
Can you describe Alessandra Tesi’s collaboration with firefighters?
Alessandra Tesi sought access to typically inaccessible locations by collaborating with firefighters. She was initially struck by their visual appearance, which she described as a “painted world.”
the project involved:
- Contacting firefighters through letters and meetings.
- Following their training for three months.
- Filming on the Seine River with firefighters on a boat.
She aimed to capture the essence of water, indirectly related to fire, with minimal staging, aiming to observe “a small movement in reality.”
how does Alessandra Tesi distinguish her videos from movies?
Alessandra Tesi differentiates her videos from movies by emphasizing the absence of a narrative or a turning point. Instead, she focuses on the interplay between the support medium and the transparency of the image.
What is the concept behind her double video, “Butterfly”?
The double video “Butterfly” exemplifies Tesi’s artistic concept. It features a glass plate treated to create a translucent effect, inspired by the stained-glass windows of Chartres Cathedral. The work connects this imagery with the wings of butterflies, which she observed in a Paris greenhouse.The theme of migration is central, representing “a continuous movement and consequent adaptation,” as envisioned within the exhibition context.
How does Alessandra Tesi perceive reality in her art?
Alessandra Tesi believes that form arises directly from an idea, reflecting her perception of reality as a “painted world.” She observes the beauty of everyday life, citing examples of painted pipes in hotel rooms and the hypnotic green crosses of French pharmacies.
What are some key aspects of Alessandra Tesi’s artistic approach?
Here is a summary of key aspects:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Subject Matter | Exploration of urban environments, isolation, and evocative details. |
| Mediums | Photographs, videos, and installations. |
| color Palette | Use of saturated colors. |
| Inspiration | Bologna’s artistic climate, travel experiences, and everyday observations. |
| Key Themes | urban life, memory, sensation, and the interplay between reality and perception. |
| Unique Elements | Collaboration with firefighters, a distinction between videos and movies, and the use of translucent effects to reflect themes like migration. |