Alik Cavaliere Explained

Alik Cavaliere
Birth Name:Aldo Cavaliere
Birth Date:5 August 1926
Birth Place:Rome
Death Place:Milan
Nationality:Italian
Field:Sculpture

Alik Cavaliere (1926–1998) was an Italian sculptor.[1] He spent his life researching the meaning of life, freedom, nature, and history. An atheist and libertarian, he didn't believe in any preconceived, final structure of society, the environment, or the universe. Nor did he follow any art movements of his time, although he knew all of them and was temporarily influenced by some. He made his own way, narrating his perceptions with witty irony, through sculptures made up of a wide range of materials, disposed in a chaotic labyrinth which visitors are forced to traverse without being able to find a definitive point of view.[2]

Biography

Alik Cavaliere was born on 5 August 1926 in Rome, to Alberto Cavaliere, a southern Italian poet and politician, and Fanny Kaufman, a Russian Hebrew sculptor who escaped from the revolution.

After spending part of his childhood between Rome and Paris, he settled in Milan in 1938. In 1942, after high school, he enrolled in Brera Academy, where he was a pupil of Francesco Messina. There he met Giacomo Manzù, Achille Funi, Dario Fo, Bobo Piccoli, and Marino Marini, of whom he first became assistant and eventually succeeded as chair of Sculpture.

His first exhibit was in 1945, at a young artists show. His first personal exhibition was in 1951, at Galleria Colonna of Milan. He exhibited twice at Venice Biennale, in 1964 and 1972, both times in a personal room. He undertook teaching duty in Brera for over 30 years, eventually becoming director. A noteworthy retrospective of his works was held at the Royal Palace of Milan in 1992, named I luoghi circostanti (Surroundings).[3]

From 27 June to 9 September 2018, Palazzo Reale hosted another Alik Cavaliere exhibition. Entitled the green universe, the anthology focused on the theme of nature, reconstructing the artist's journey through rendering aspects of luxuriance and suffering by representing plants.[4]

He was buried at Cimitero Monumentale di Milano and his name is mentioned in the Famedio (hall of fame).[5]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Story Alik Cavaliere - Storie Milanesi . 13 Jun 2018.
  2. Encyclopedia: Angela Vettese . Elena Pontiggia . A sociable loner . Alik Cavaliere, l'universo verde . Silvana Editoriale . http://english.silvanaeditoriale.it/catalogo/prodotto.asp?id=5070 . June 2018 . Italian, English . Some interpreters have probed his logic, but it is necessary to look further..
  3. Book: Alik Cavaliere . Guido Ballo . 1992 . I luoghi circostanti . Surroundings . Silvana . 8836603793 . Italian, English .
  4. Web site: The green universe . . 2018 . Milan Municipality Tourism Guide . 23 July 2018.
  5. Web site: famedio 2016 . . 2016 . Official Site of Milan Municipality . Italian . hall of fame 2016 . 13 Jun 2018.