Jan. 17 - In Asia, white elephants are traditionally a symbol of good luck and prosperity. In Northern European countries, the name "white elephant" is given to overly ambitious projects. Michelangelo Consani, artist from Livorno, plays with this double meaning in his project on display at Gallery Side 2 in Tokyo, until February28. "Nine white elephants and a potato " is an installation that, through a series of metric measurements, places at the center of the gallery a precise geographical area, the Aral-Caspian basin where Asia and Europe meet. Here, Consani has placed two sculptures in black Belgian marble, a rare material now depleted, representing the West. The two sculptures pass a potato with their mouths in a gesture of "metaphysical suspension" representing both conflict and cultural exchanges. From this hypothetical center, the artist places also minor characters, the "elephants" as agronomists, scientists, economists… creating a mapping of the world through individual personalities that help find the way for a more equitable convivial and sustainable society, saving us from the "clash" between the emerging capitalist system and the moribund Western model. Consani held his first exhibition in Japan in 2010, when he was invited to take part in the first edition of the Aichi Triennale. Strongly critical of the global production system, his artistic research focuses on issues of sustainability, social equity, but also and above all, conducting collective and individual researches.

MICHELANGELO CONSANI

Born in Livorno in 1971, Consani participated a series of major collective exhibitions (Artkliazma, Russia; Glaspaleis Schunck, Netherlands; Musée d'Art Contemporain du Val de Marne, France; Center for Contemporary Art Celje, Slovenia; Cittadellarte - Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella) before receiving in 2010 from EX3 Centro per l'Arte Contemporanea of Florence the award for best artist under 40. The same year, he took part in the first Aichi Triennale. In 2011 he prepared a solo exhibition at the Kunstraum of Monaco of Bavaria and at CAMeC Pianozero of La Spezia, in 2012 he exhibited at the Museo Pecci in Prato and Milan and at the Biennale of Dakar. In 2013 the Museum of Liss invited him to make a special project for the inauguration of the museum. Recently, the Kunstverein Milan / Amsterdam / New York has published a book about the artist, presented at PS1 in New York.