Alain Chivilò

Alain Chivilò or Chivilo is an Italian contemporary art curator, critic, journalist and writer based in Italy with collaborations outside his home country. University education in two different fields, economics and art history, because a process of personal growth is enriched over the years with ideas whose value exceeds the previous one. The beginnings see Alain, with discretion, engaged in the dissemination of the work of figurative artists of the city of Venice, belonging to the second figurative pictorial generation of the School of Burano. Artists, focused in landscape, nature, still life and portraits such as Marco Novati, Eugenio Da Venezia, Neno Mori, Carlo Dalla Zorza, Fioravante Seibezzi, Aldo Bergamini, Gigi candiani, Cosimo Privato, Mario Varagnolo for example).

Photo of the art critic and curator Alain Chivilò, Chivilo, Venice 2016

In this context the art monographs “Gigi Candiani Tessere di vita”,[n 1] “Marco Novati Volti Vissuti”[n 2] and "Gigi Candiani Atmosfere Rarefatte"[n 3] triggered in Italy a debate about the importance of these figurative artists in modern Italian art. [n 4]

At the same time reviews of cultural events, critical texts and presentations of modern and contemporary artists make him appreciated in the art world. The interview and the meeting with the subjects of the artistic world, of internationally renowned, are an important step for a real critical examination.

In press, as freelance journalist,[n 5] he writes for various national and international newspapers and magazines, interviewing artists as for example Sir Anthony Caro, Marc Quinn, Shozo Shimamoto, Hermann Nitsch, Jacques Villeglé, Fabrizio Plessi, Gianni Berengo Gardin, Riccardo Licata, Eugenio Carmi, Rabarama, Achille Perilli, Luca Alinari, Alberto Biasi, Xu Deqi, Helidon Xhixha. In June 2017 all these art contacts, that involved him, have been published in a new book: "Tracce Segni Macchie Bruciature Concetti Scatti Tagli Buchi".[n 6]

In a short period of time, around 2013-16, he studied and analyzed the ignorance and lack of communication in the Italian culture (different geographical areas). The project called "Quod erat demonstrandum" was a sort of global provocative act denouncing the current strength of "commonplace" generated by a culturally superficial society, taking on unsuitable jobs. The result was a failure because it did not create the desired communication and consequently it was immediately interrupted. Now he attempts to form the society towards a philosophy based on dialogue and listening.

As art critic a simplicity of expression (not banality) is a fundamental feature of his texts. [n 7] In the curatorship field he conceives and proposes art events within a constant research. He has also organised exhibitions at Casa dei Carraresi (Treviso), Villa Pisani, Stra (Venice), Casa del Mantegna Andrea Mantegna (Mantua) and in other different locations in Italy and abroad.

Due to the three years of pandemic period (2020-2022) and the general economic crisis, connected to the changing generations of artists, it is becoming very difficult to create and plan events, but Alain Chivilo is continuing with the same spirit of strength and emotion.