Hug - curated by Flavio Scaloni

A curation by Flavio Scaloni, Gallery Manager at Galerie Lo Scalo - The hug is a universal gesture of intimacy, symbolizing reconciliation, safety, and the profound human need for connection. Psychologically, it represents the dissolution of boundaries and the creation of a sanctuary between two souls. Historically, Gustav Klimt’s "The Hug" serves as a masterpiece of ornamental passion, where lovers are encased in a mosaic of golden fulfillment. From 1950 onward, this theme evolved into more visceral and social expressions. Keith Haring utilized bold, rhythmic lines to portray the hug as a symbol of universal empathy in his iconic drawings of embracing figures. The theme took a complex sculptural form in Louise Bourgeois’s "The Couple" (2003), where the embrace reflects a hanging tension of interdependence. In photography, the world-famous Nan Goldin captured the raw reality of intimacy in "Nan and Brian embracing, NYC (1983)," depicting the hug as a vital act of survival and love. This selection explores how contemporary artists continue to reinterpret this primal touch.

17 Artworks

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