Preview Artissima 2024

“What happens if we let lines dream? Following a line, one line becomes a wave, another dissolves into still lifes, yet another merges with the vertical mass of ceramic stacks, or intertwines with painted gestures; together, they open up new possible worlds. Lines as clusters of close points. Marks. Knots. Flows of matter.” – Luca Zarattini
Curiosity and a gift for dialogue have always distinguished Battilossi, a Turin-based institution that, since its founding in 1959, has evolved to become a landmark in the international world of rugs. For Artissima, Italy’s premier contemporary art fair, Battilossi opens the doors of its Turin gallery, located in the central Piazza Maria Teresa, to present a site-specific installation created in collaboration with the Emilia-born artist Luca Zarattini.

From November 1 to 3 — with some of the artist’s works remaining on display until November 8 — the "waves of lines" flowing dynamically in Zarattini's pieces blend with the textures and color gradations of the rugs on display at Battilossi Gallery in Turin. This union creates a vibrant conversation, a visual and tactile echo that resonates between art and craftsmanship. A kaleidoscope of diverse works, including paintings, ceramic sculptures, and drawings, invites the viewer on a profound and immersive journey through Zarattini’s personal memories, textile art, and the mystical allure of the city of Turin. Like an invisible thread, the Po River ties it all together — that body of water which has witnessed the artist's growth and, in its flow, embraces the Savoy city before branching out and dissolving into the sea.

Among the exhibited works are sound sculptures, surprising musical instruments that the artist has transformed into unique pieces of art. These creations are more than mere visual objects; they come to life during a musical performance by Sardinian musician Zoe Pia, who will animate these extraordinary instruments, transforming the exhibition space into a multisensory experience where music dialogues with art, intertwining sounds and forms in a singular synergy.

With this initiative, Battilossi, ever attuned to beauty in all its forms, reaffirms its vision of textile art as a living domain where knowledge of the past is woven with inspirations from different eras, generating a continuous flow of creative experimentation. Here, the rug is not just a decorative object but an integral part of a larger design, in an eclectic and refined combination with furnishings and selected artworks that complete the space.

Galleria Battilossi
Via Giolitti 45 g
10123 Torino – Italy
Tel. +39 011 18951830 Email: info@battilossi.com

Ufficio stampa: R+W, 02 33104675, barbara.barbato@r-w.it