Ilenia

Daniele Milvio is an Italian artist working primarily in sculpture and painting. Drawing from literature, mythology, art history, and contemporary culture, Milvio’s idiosyncratic and occult works interweave literary or historical themes with current cultural and socio-political issues.

Showing at Basel Social Club are Gemelli, five pairs of bronze wall-mounted candle holders in the shape of a skeleton hand dressed in a shirt’s cuff, each cufflink taking the form of a different face. This new body of work, which sits between sculpture and functional object, directly references the candle holders made for Cacafoco, the artist’s first solo exhibition in 2015, where the exhibition space was lit only by the light of the candles placed among the paintings.

Milvio’s ceramic-framed drawings depict objects or characters embodying mythology, apocalypse, and fantasy.
The artist draws inspiration from a reservoir of images, situations, and narratives gathered over time, “objects” which he knows he wants to someday realize.
The idea for the frames initially arose from the need to independently provide an adequate structure to the drawings without the aid of a framer. Once sealed, the artist’s structures fulfil not only the function of a frame, which it betrays by not allowing the drawing to be taken out, but also that of a deterrent to good taste. With their affectionate gazes, the frames’ sullen faces are particularly suitable for accompanying the night time journeys between bedroom and bathroom.

Daniele Milvio (b. 1988, Genoa) graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Milano (2011). He lives and works out of Milan, Italy. Milvio has exhibited internationally, with recent solo presentations including: Melodyne, Weiss Falk, Basel (2022); Danno Erariale, curated by Gigiotto del Vecchio, Fondazione Morra Greco, Naples (2022); Terzultimatum, Galleria Federico Vavassori, Milan (2021);  New bronzes and Drawings, Weiss Falk Attic, Basel (2019); A Milano non si usa, Galleria Federico Vavassori, Milan (2018); Brache, Supportico Lopez, Berlin (2017); Mille Furie, Downs & Ross, New York (2017); Schifanoia, Hester, New York (2015); Digos Boia, Hadrian, Rome (2014). Current and Recent group shows include: Greetings, curated by Antonio De Martino and Edoardo Marabini, Galerie Hussenot, Paris (2023); Found Refined Refound, Weiss Falk at Eva Presenhuber, New York (2023); Watercolours Chapter II.2, Weiss Falk, Basel; Our Vampires, curated by Attilia Fattori Franchini, Sperling , Munich (2021); Panorama Procida, ITALICS Art, Procida (2021); It might include or avoid feelings, curated by Attilia Fattori Franchini, Hyphen Projects, Milan (2019); Use Your Illusion, Herald St, London (2018); Tra l’inquietudine e il martello, Galleria Federico Vavassori, Milan (2018); Mycorial Theatre 2016, Curated by Milovan Farronato and Paulina Olowska, São Paulo (2016); Granpalazzo, presented by Hester, Palazzo Rospigliosi, Zagarolo (2016); Full-Fall, organized by Davide Stucchi and Mattia Ruffolo, Milan (2015); Duplicatum, Vesselroom, Berlin (2014).