Marisa Culatto- Flora/Ophelia

About

The two series of photographs, Ophelia and Flora, presented as part of the exhibition, draw heavily on the artist’s personal experience and it is this strong autobiographical element that makes the work especially powerful.

Delicate, carnal and lubricious

In Marisa’s own words on Ophelia:

Recently, a curator I respect wrote: “please let me see the work: don’t tell me about it, don’t explain it”.  I am tempted to do just that.  Nevertheless, in case that is not enough, this is what others have said:

“… they seem delicate, or so you might think at first glance… but suddenly they reveal themselves as radically carnal, lubricious and exuding something somewhat human and murky…”

– Abraham San Pedro, Writer and Publisher

“… they possess an illusionistic three dimensional aspect. From the title something ephemeral and delicate is suggested. At the same time I have thought of Sophie Ristelhueber, whose work Fait reminds us of scars or inscriptions as traces of actions.  I also like the appearance of a natural science collection when seen together.”

– Atsuhide Ito, Artist and Lecturer

“… they are so luminous and transparent…  They made me think of Spoerri’s Anecdoted Topography of Chance. Here the topography of chance comes without personal possessions…”

– Carsten Ahrenholz, Writer

About the artist

Marisa Culatto, born in Gran Canaria, lives and works in the UK. Culattto was trained in analogue photography in Gran Canaria and Barcelona, but it was the encounter with digital photography that consolidated her artistic practice as her interest lies in pushing – blurring – the boundaries of photography into the language and practice usually associated with other mediums. Constraints, domesticity and daily rituals are at the centre of her practice.

She is also interested in the notion of reality being a construct, and, therefore, much of her work addresses contradictions, misperceptions and/or a degree of visual ambiguity. Culatto has exhibited her work in mostly in Spain and the UK. In 2011 she received the AlNorte Grant within the X National Contemporary Arts Week of Asturias, Spain. Her work is in many corporate and private collections. Marisa Culatto is represented in the UK and Spain by Molina Contemporary.

An essay will accompany the exhibition written by Susana Blas.