Alternating between a chthonian nightmare and an ethereal daze, Italian artist Norberto Spina's "Arcadia" series at Cooke Latham Gallery's booth stirred a morbid, spiritual curiosity in me. These works, measuring a mere 9.6 by 7.1 inches, are immersed in shadows, depicting close-ups of images such as a pig farm in Arcadia II or a hand holding a switchblade in Arcadia VI (both 2024).
Spina sources the subjects of his paintings from archival images, old family photographs, scenes from his daily life, and iPhone photography, disrupted by symbols of religious Italian iconography. The clash between the contemporary and the historical parallels how contemporary life in Italy takes place among the historical. Spina creates these works by layering paint and marker pen, rendering these images with muted shadows.
Living and working in London, the 29-year-old artist is currently wrapping up his MFA at the Royal Academy. His installation at NADA is a revival of his 2023 "Arcadia" installation at the Royal Academy Schools, leaving me hoping to see a solo show of his in the near future. Recent group shows include "After Reminiscence" at Milan's Cassina Project, and "Field of difference" at Palmer Gallery in London, both this year.
