The Mayor of the City of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla, the Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Palermo, Giampiero Cannella, the President of Fondazione Sicilia,, Raffaele Bonsignore, and the President of the Fondazione Sebastiano Tusa, Valeria Li Vigni, in the presence of the artist, are proud to present the solo exhibition of Jean Boghossian titled “The Language of Fire – Flaming Imaginary. Shapes and Rhythms of Universal Instability,” curated by Bruno Corà.
The exhibition project, promoted and organized by Fondazione Sebastiano Tusa, is realized with the support of the City of Palermo, in collaboration with Fondazione Sicilia, and is part of the collateral events of the Festino di Santa Rosalia 2023.
In the Mediterranean, alongside Sicily, there exist other lands and peoples with a history that spans millennia, interweaving a tapestry of cultures and events that have played a part in bridging Europe with Africa, the Middle East, and even Asia. Born in Aleppo to an Armenian family, Jean Boghossian has spent his life and continues to split his time between the Middle East (Beirut, Yerevan) and Europe (Brussels, Monaco) dedicating himself to painting, sculpture, and applied arts with a distinct and innovative approach.
After completing his academic studies and an extensive apprenticeship in the art of goldsmithing and body ornamentation, Boghossian has over the past two decades, crafted an innovative technique aligned with an aesthetic of instability and impermanence. His method is characterized by experimental speed in execution, resonating with the rhythms of our increasingly dynamic era. His works are diverse, considering all types of materials and employing various transformational methods, such as fire, smoke, pure pigment, airbrush painting, all while demonstrating a sensitive control over form.
As we navigate through current socio-cultural, geopolitical, economic, and ecological changes, Boghossian serves as a crucial artistic interpreter. His work encapsulates the many aspects that comprise the themes currently dominating the Mediterranean. His art symbolizes the intermingling of cultures that Sicily has been – and still is – a magnetic hub for.
The exhibition, gracing Palermo due to Fondazione Sebastiano Tusa’s efforts (devoted to commemorating the name and contribution of the renowned archaeologist and researcher), presents the public and the press with one of Jean Boghossian’s most comprehensive anthological displays, curated by Bruno Corà. This internationally acclaimed artist has perfectly encapsulated the theme of cultural dynamism, which is increasingly unstable and continuously evolving. Corà’s critical attention to social, geopolitical, and ecological contexts is evident through his meticulous control over form.
Boghossian’s ongoing attention to the Mediterranean balances aligns seamlessly with the socio-political mission that Sebastiano Tusa always promoted in his extensive work. As an archaeologist devoted to the Mediterranean and its socio-cultural development, Tusa recognized the Mediterranean’s wealth of archaeological, artistic, and literary stimuli aimed at fostering knowledge and safeguarding cultural heritage. His work encouraged continuous cooperation and appreciation with the intention of cultivating dialogue, dismantling barriers, and creating shared awareness.
Fondazione Sebastiano Tusa, aiming to establish a widespread museum network, has carried out the exhibition project titled “Jean Boghossian, The Language of Fire – Flaming Imaginary. Shapes and Rhythms of Universal Instability“. This exhibition offers a multitude of works to the public, marking the continuous journey towards achieving linguistic maturity with surprising outcomes, in the tradition of pioneering artists like Pollock, Burri, Arman, Klein, Piene, and other masters of the 20th century.
The Language of Fire – Flaming Imaginary will enjoy expansive visibility, featuring the Boghossians’s paintings and sculptures in various venues across the city. These include Villa Zito, Palazzo Branciforte, the Biblioteca Comunale di Casa Professa, and the Church of San Crispino and Crispiniano and San Michele Arcangelo. Additionally, the indoor and outdoor spaces of Villa Igiea and the Verdura Resort of Sciacca, part of the Rocco Forte Hotels group, will also host artworks.