Mario Calandri Biography
Mario Calandri was a contemporary Italian artist known for his work in printmaking and painting. He was born in 1914 in Turin, where he died in 1993, having contributed to the artistic prestige of his hometown. His training took place at the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts in Turin, where he met successful figures in the Italian artistic panorama of the twentieth century, who were a great stimulus to his professional growth. Among his mentors was Cesare Maggi, of whom he became assistant upon completion of his studies. The Thirties represent Mario Calandri's debut in the world of art: he began to exhibit his works in Rome and Venice, but it was in 1940 that his professional career began, thanks to participation in the Milan Biennale, where he he would later present it in three other editions of the 1950s. His career suffered a sharp slowdown due to the Second World War. However, after the war, he resumed his activity, abandoning the Maggi school and preferring to work alongside his beloved master Marcello Boglione, responsible since 1934 for the rediscovered School of Incisive Techniques at the Albertina. The master's esteem for his student allowed him to be elected to succeed Boglione in 1957. Here he obtained an important position, where he remained teaching until 1977, influencing entire generations of engravers with his wisdom. The importance of Mario Calandri is not only noted in the field of painting, but also in engraved graphics, where he is even considered one of the greatest exponents of the twentieth century. According to many scholars and experts in the sector, Calandri's main gift lies in his ability to represent aspects of private life to metaphorically signify the entire world. In his paintings and engravings, carousels and theaters prevail above all, representing the mystery and ambiguity of existence as well as many other figures suspended between reality and imagination. Furthermore, his engravings are a riot of flowers that are enriched with lunar reflections and, consequently, equally fascinating and mysterious. There have been numerous exhibitions, including posthumous, featuring his paintings and graphic works. It is worth noting that the greatest recognition was given to the period following his death, both as an engraver and as a painter. The cities that have paid homage to the artist have been numerous, especially in the last twenty years: from Milan to Trieste, from Bari to Aosta, ending with his hometown, Turin.
