Catalog Wild Souls

This exhibition pairs two artists who, despite their vastly different languages, share an exploration of childhood and its connection to our most authentic essence through the relationship with nature. On one side, we have Claudia Giraudo, a long-time artist of PUNTO SULL’ARTE, beloved for her polished, timeless painting. On the other side, Simone Benedetto, presented in the gallery last September, showcases his fresh and immediate sculptures of children at play, reminiscent of snapshots.

Giraudo offers another chapter in her narrative about pre-adolescence as a magical age where boys and girls can still hear the voice of their guiding animal. Her portraits are imbued with magic, such as the young girl beside a cow, sporting bovine ears as if she too is transforming, or the almond-eyed girl with a leopard cub perched on her head, seemingly merging with her. Beautiful, light, and elusive, Giraudo’s girls gaze into our eyes as if calling us to listen to the authentic voice of our instincts. Similarly, Benedetto’s children remind us of play as a means of self-discovery, poised to leap like lions or appearing ready to take flight like birds. In his works, large beastly heads merge with faces, creating an illusion of a single soul. His recent pieces introduce plant elements: cherry branches transform into deer antlers, while large monstera leaves mimic elephant ears, reflecting a quest for one’s most authentic self and wild soul that captivates and involves us.