Antonio Massarutto

Antonio Massarutto (*1973 in Pordenone, Italy) works with natural materials, objets trouvés, from nature, which he transforms into partly abstract and partly zoomorphic sculptures. On closer inspection, their materiality becomes clear and the viewer is amazed to discover that the animals are composed of “dead” natural material: Branches, earth, moss and burlap. The creatures in the exhibition are the result of instinctive construction work derived from his profound knowledge of animal morphology; the artist thus creates structures that are somewhere between mimesis and myth.

Massarutto grew up in his grandfather’s taxidermy workshop and therefore had intensive contact with the physiognomy of a wide variety of animals from a very early age. In addition to his artistic training, this is particularly evident in his sculptures, which are created with very reduced means and radiate a tremendous liveliness. In addition to his figurative works, he has recently created an increasing number of abstract sculptural works, also based on the idea of natural objets trouvés.