The exhibition spans three floors of Pinacoteca Agnelli in a retrospective journey through Salvo’s oeuvre—a maverick artist and forerunner whose unique and impactful trajectory is now more relevant than ever.
Born in Leonforte, Sicily, in 1947, and relocating to Turin in 1956, Salvo (née Salvatore Mangione) initially leans towards the visual vocabulary of Conceptual art and Arte Povera in his early career, exploring themes of self-representation and language in photographic and sculptural works. Starting in the early 1970s, contrary to contemporary trends, Salvo devoted himself exclusively to painting, a commitment he maintained for the next forty years.
“Arriving on Time” provides an exhaustive journey through Salvo’s practice, divided into eight sections across three floors of Pinacoteca Agnelli. The exhibition highlights some of Salvo’s key cycles, emphasizing how his paintings are not in opposition to his earlier conceptual approach but rather coherently absorb its intentions: experimenting with repetitive subject matter; reflecting on the medium itself; and asserting the importance of the artist’s role and essential relationship with art history, writing, and literature.
The exhibition begins with a focus on 1973, a pivotal year when Salvo exhibited both in New York and Milan, showcasing a set of conceptual photographs in one venue and two large paintings on paper in the other. It then moves on to his plaques, followed by a speculative representation of his studio, which includes canvases and writings reflecting his interest in words and books as forms of expression and sources of inspiration. From the artist’s studio, visitors embark on a journey from the interior to the exterior, encountering recurring motifs such as bars, urban landscapes illuminated by streetlights, and natural scenes painted at various times of the day. The exhibition continues on the second floor, featuring capricci and ottomanie works stemming from Salvo’s Mediterranean explorations, culminating in San Giorgio e il Drago, displayed in the Scrigno on the fifth floor. This series is put in ideal dialogue with Salvo’s desire to engage with art history, here represented by the works of Pinacoteca’s permanent collection. Taken from a quote by the artist, the title “Arriving on Time” refers to Salvo’s painting methodology, aiming to capture the essence of his subjects on canvas. It also plays with his supposed “untimeliness” within the art scene in which he worked, favoring the slow temporalities of art history over the fast-paced trends of his era. The title further alludes to an anecdote in which, after causing a minor car accident, Salvo apologized by explaining that he was rushing to catch the sunset.
at Pinacoteca Agnelli, Turin
until May 25, 2025