Signs: between Form and Language

Melzi Fine Art is pleased to present "Signs: Between Form and Language", an exhibition exploring the essential role of signs in contemporary artistic research. From March 27 to May 23, 2025, the gallery will showcase a selection of works by four distinguished Italian masters: Carla Accardi, Alighiero Boetti, Giuseppe Capogrossi, and Jannis Kounellis.

The Exhibition

A sign is the fundamental unit of visual communication, a universal language that transcends time and culture. "Signs: Between Form and Language" investigates the nature of signs as carriers of meaning, examining their ability to bridge the gap between the material and the conceptual. The exhibition delves into the tension between form and interpretation, exploring how signs evolve from mere marks into complex systems of communication.

By presenting a variety of artistic expressions, the exhibition highlights the transformation of signs from spontaneous gestures to structured codes, from abstract symbols to tangible imprints. It emphasizes the fluidity of signs—how they shift, adapt, and acquire new meanings depending on their context. Visitors are invited to engage with the power of signs as tools of expression, capable of transcending language barriers and historical boundaries.

The Artists

Carla Accardi, a key figure in post-war Italian abstraction, revolutionized the use of signs through her exploration of color, transparency, and materiality. By employing sicofoil, a translucent plastic material, she created dynamic compositions where signs emerge and dissolve in an interplay of light and shadow. Her work reflects an ever-evolving dialogue between gesture and space, breaking the conventional boundaries of painting.

Alighiero Boetti’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in the concept of duality and classification. His iconic embroidered maps and grid-based works transform signs into complex linguistic and numerical systems. By engaging in collaborations—most notably with Afghan artisans—he extended the concept of authorship, emphasizing the fluid and participatory nature of signs as carriers of meaning and collective memory.

Giuseppe Capogrossi developed an innovative visual vocabulary composed of recurring abstract shapes, often resembling primitive glyphs. His unique system of marks functions as an enigmatic language that resists interpretation, yet evokes a deep sense of structure and rhythm. His approach to signs oscillates between spontaneity and rigorous composition, bridging the gap between intuition and order.

As a central figure of Arte Povera, Jannis Kounellis expanded the notion of signs beyond the two- dimensional plane, incorporating raw materials such as iron, coal, and fire. His installations and sculptural works transform signs into physical presences, evoking the tension between history, industry, and human experience. For Kounellis, the sign is not just a mark but an imprint of lived reality, charged with memory and materiality.