Les Bienveillantes.

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“Les Bienveillantes”, 60x160x15, oil on canvas, 2025 - Group exhibition at Subtei Berlin, 48H Neukoelln, June 2025.

In the third and final act of Aeschylus’ Oresteia, the Furies (the three goddesses of vengeance) are enraged by Athena’s decision to spare Oreste, guilty of murder. They feel their identity is erased, if they cannot exercise punishment on humankind.
Athena though responds giving them a new, different mission: praising and rewarding the good and valiant, changing their name to “The Kindly Ones”(Les Bienveillantes, which is also the title of Jonathan Little’s historical novel).



Can then distruction also be regarded as good deed?
Can it be rewarded as an act of purification and progress?
The distruction and then reconstruction of the Berliner Keiserliches Schloss begs for this debate. Now more then ever.

(Thanks to everybody who visited the show, to Subtei Berlin for the occasion that inspired this painting, To Emanuele Guidi for the usual support and Gianluca Ranzi for always knowing what book l should read next)

Imperfect Matter.

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This time it was me invited to partecipate in the exhibition Imperfect Matter, that the trio (from Awash, Milan) set up in a former church in varenna, on Lake Como, Italy.

My contribution was a 2015 painting, one of my favourite creatures, installed as a backdrop for the magical setting put up by Ilaria Benzoni (Falena, Berlin), Natalie Foti (Flowers and Moods, Berlin) and Luca Baroni (Sillabe Studio, Milan):

Rock Solid, 170x130, oil and laque on canvas, 2015, in his first appearance in Berlin at the solo show “There is no time, at which ties do not matter”.

https://www.paolobarlascini.com/woodhouse

Awash - A fior d’acqua.

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April 2023 I curated an event which took place during the Milan Design Week. It was a great time in Luca Baroni’s studio, with him, Ilaria Benzoni and Natalie Foti (aka Flowers and Moods)!

AWASH - A FIOR D’ACQUA

The domesticity of the objects that shape our everyday lives often remains unheard, drowned out by the loud and overflowing reality. And yet, it is in the spontaneous dialogue these familiar presences sparkle that we can sight the reflections of gentle and caring rituals.

The source of “Awash - A fior d’ acqua” springs from three artistic practices that have diverse origins but which share a common space, supporting each other symbiotically.

Inspired by the observation of nature and one ear connected to poetry, Ilaria Benzoni’s ceramics explore materiality by using organic surfaces that remind us of sensory experiences.

The floral compositions by Flowers and Moods (Natalie Foti) reflect her study of Sogetsu, the modern school of Japanese ikebana, whose elements are carefully selected with regard to fragility and imperfection, allow them to function as silent initiators of their surroundings.

Sillabe, the furniture project of Luca Baroni, whose Milan studio hosts this exhibition, is the outcome of a rational study of the interaction between space and those who inhabit it, resulting in handcrafted works featuring sculptural, minimalist designs.