Valentino Vannini: Penetrable Boundaries

About

Standpoint is pleased to present ‘Penetrable Boundaries’, a new series of sculptures by Valentino Vannini (b.1976, Florence, Italy). Vannini lures the viewer into the gallery through a series of chance encounters, exploring ideas around gay cruising spaces. It is not the act of sex itself which permeates the work or interests Vannini, but an interrogation of the relationships between restrictions, boundaries and societal control, and how biases operate in these environments and society as a whole. Through his work, Vannini explores acts of defiance and resistance to erasure, which are typical manifestations against such restrictions within marginalised groups. The work celebrates the unspoken, vulnerability and desire.

Produced during a ten-week residency at Standpoint, Vannini’s sculptures take an observation of chain link fences as a point of departure. These metal partitions are vital in establishing the environment he is investigating. They often represent the forgotten margins of larger grounds, parts of the landscape which are supposedly rarely explored. Here, in a state of semi-abandonment, their harsh structures warp over time and get colonised by plants, shards of broken glass, and general dirt and debris. 

Synthetic materials often get tangled and grip to a fence's hollow diamond pattern. These fibres trespass the boundaries imposed by the fence by getting caught within it. Holes open up in the mesh that sometimes covers these forgotten barriers, allowing people to peep through. Reclaimed surfaces become unintended screens filtering light and sound from the urban surroundings.

A dishevelled palette of materials juxtaposes lightness to weight and movement to stiffness. Vannini humorously plays with polypropylene plastic, natural fibres, synthetic Raffia, grass blades, cement and petroleum jelly. Through platting, knitting, and weaving, he reappropriates these barricades to reclaim them. Vannini celebrates the disobedience of fibres and their freedom to tangle across. Their coming together despite the coercive and controlling metal wire in an orgy of trepidation and unconventional behaviours. 

Valentino Vannini (b.1976, Florence, Italy) lives and works in London, UK. Recent MA graduate in Fine Art from City & Guilds of London Art School. Recipient of the Sculpture Award, Studio West Gallery, London. Vannini will exhibit new work in a group show at SET Lewisham, Unknown Territory 8 – 18 February 2024.

Standpoint residencies facilitate artist development and enable the production of new work in a supportive environment, encouraging artistic exchange and collective working. The residencies are designed to be flexible and responsive to the project, needs and desired outcomes of individual participants. This residency is in partnership with City & Guilds of London Art School.