On November 17th, La Lettura’s Corriere Art Collection unveils a cover that delves into the complex interplay of borders and connections—“What's a Border?” by Paolo Manazza.
Renowned for his evocative abstract compositions, Italian artist Paolo Manazza brings forth a vivid exploration of boundaries, both physical and psychological. “What's a Border?” features dense oil brushstrokes of pink, red, and gray, intersected by fissures streaked with blue, white, and green. These elements symbolize the frontiers of painting and the mind, suggesting that while borders divide space, they are not mere barriers but connections that create new possibilities through separation.
Accompanying the work are video contributions by Ilvio Gallo, with a musical score by Steven Piccolo featuring Sergio Armaroli on vibraphone.
The physical issue will hit newsstands nationwide starting Sunday, November 17th. Shortly thereafter, the edition featuring the digital collectible version of the cover—complete with a digital certificate of authenticity and an innovative 3D rendering of the artwork—will be available on Tuesday, November 19th.
Paolo Manazza: Blurring the Lines Between Art and Thought
Paolo Manazza has long been a prominent figure in the Italian art scene, celebrated for his profound contributions as both a painter and a journalist specializing in the economics of art. Born in Milan in 1959, Manazza's multifaceted career spans over three decades, during which he has written for Corriere della Sera since 1992. His insightful analyses have made him a respected voice in the art world.
Beyond journalism, Manazza has shared his expertise as an educator at the prestigious Brera Academy in Milan, teaching courses on Art Publishing and the Theory and Practice of the Multimedia Art Market. His commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of art led to his recognition by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in 2005, who honored him with the title of Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
As the founder and director of ArtsLife.com, Manazza continues to influence the discourse on contemporary art. His dual roles as creator and commentator allow him to bridge the gap between artistic expression and critical analysis.
Artistically, Manazza is celebrated for his exploration of abstraction, combining gestural intensity with a vibrant poetry of color. His paintings delve into themes of division and connection, using color and form to evoke emotional and intellectual responses. By examining the paradox of separation as a means of connection, his work invites viewers to contemplate the complexities of human experience.
Exploring Boundaries: “What's a Border?”
Launching with the November 17th cover of La Lettura's Corriere Art Collection, “What's a Border?” by Paolo Manazza challenges us to reconsider our perceptions of borders. This project, crafted specifically for La Lettura, is not just a visual spectacle but an invitation to introspection.
The artwork presents dense oil brushstrokes of pink, red, and gray, disrupted by fissures with streaks of blue, white, and green. These contrasting elements symbolize the symbolic frontiers of painting and, in turn, of the mind. Manazza suggests that borders, while dividing space, often serve as connections that foster new possibilities through separation.
Enhancing the project's innovative spirit, “What's a Border?” is also realized as a digital piece using cutting-edge technology. Readers who purchase the special collector's edition equipped with a QR code can experience the artwork in an immersive digital format, further blurring the lines between traditional and modern artistic mediums.
Reflecting on Manazza's artwork, Gianluigi Colin, Art Director of Corriere della Sera, remarks: “Dense oil brushstrokes of pink, red, and gray. Then fissures with streaks of blue, white, and green, as if to delineate symbolic frontiers of painting and, in turn, of the mind: as we know, borders divide space, but they are not mere barriers; they are more often connections that create new possibilities through separation. For many years, Paolo Manazza has been working in the realms of Abstraction and has created specifically for "La Lettura" a work with the evocative title "What's a Border?” which is also a digital piece realized with innovative 3D technology and can be viewed by those who purchase the special collector's edition equipped with a QR code, available at newsstands starting Tuesday. A multifaceted figure, Paolo Manazza (Milan, 1959) is simultaneously a painter, journalist, essayist, and entrepreneur in the cultural world: artistically, he has made his mark through his pictorial exploration that combines the tension of gesture with a vibrant poetry of color. And perhaps for this reason, all his work seems to embody the words of the religious figure Enzo Bianchi: "Pain and love have no borders, even if we build walls to avoid seeing pain and set boundaries to not recognize love."