Maurizio Savini's intricate works are created using thousands of pieces of...the bright pink gum?
Savini (39) has been using the material, known in his native Italy as 'American Gum' after it arrived during World War II, for the past 10 years. His sticky sculptures, such as a life-size buffalo, a grizzly bear and suited businessmen suspended in gymnastic poses, have been exhibited all over the world.
The Rome-based artist said: "The reason I like to use chewing gum is because it seemed to me an amazingly versatile material compared to those used by the traditional arts such as painting."
Despite its history of it belonging to popular culture, chewing gum does not have a statute of its own within institutional art. But Savini hope that will change - "I work the chewing gum when it is warm and manipulate it with a knife just like some traditional material like clay. The most important step is the fixing of the sculptures with formaldehyde and antibiotic. I believe that in my work on this material is redeemed and acquires a capacity and it has an expressive dignity of its own."
Savini (39) has been using the material, known in his native Italy as 'American Gum' after it arrived during World War II, for the past 10 years. His sticky sculptures, such as a life-size buffalo, a grizzly bear and suited businessmen suspended in gymnastic poses, have been exhibited all over the world.
The Rome-based artist said: "The reason I like to use chewing gum is because it seemed to me an amazingly versatile material compared to those used by the traditional arts such as painting."
Despite its history of it belonging to popular culture, chewing gum does not have a statute of its own within institutional art. But Savini hope that will change - "I work the chewing gum when it is warm and manipulate it with a knife just like some traditional material like clay. The most important step is the fixing of the sculptures with formaldehyde and antibiotic. I believe that in my work on this material is redeemed and acquires a capacity and it has an expressive dignity of its own."
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