Biography of Maurizio Cattelan

Art and provocation

September 21, 1960
Maurizio Cattelan was born on September 21, 1960 in Padua. Do not attend any Academy, for which creates works on his own. He started his career in the 1980s in the city of Forlì, in Italy. In Forlì also knows some local artists. Continues to do his work in Milan. In his sculptures starts to represent theatrical pieces, provoking actions, objects that do not work, comments and texts which accompany both his works both unrealized works from him. In 1986 realizes one of his best known works provocateurs, "Untitled", where it represents a canvas torn into three parts that is meant to represent a large zeta. Achieved great success though five years later on the occasion of his first major exhibition at the Galleria d'Arte Moderna in Bologna. The work which exposes on this occasion is "Stadium 1991", which is a major foosball table in which there are eleven Senegalese players and 11 players of Cesena. Two years later he got another job, "Work is a bad job", with the intention of wanting to sell at an advertising agency on its exhibition space. This work is presented at the Venice Biennale, upsetting the audience.
Experiencing great successes and receives great compliments from the Italian critics. During one of his performances in Milan attaches with adhesive tape the Gallery Massimo De Carlo against the wall. Cattelan is considered by critics as one of the post-Duchamp of art today. In 1999 realizes one of his most famous sculptures: "the ninth Hour". In this work, made of latex and wax fabric, represents Pope John Paul II slumped to the ground since it was hit by a meteorite; around the Polish Pope include of breaking glass. The work, which has received a lot of criticism and has been the subject of great controversy, was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London.
Also the work by Carty was sold at auction by Christiès in 2003 for $ 886,000. Two years after Maurizio Cattelan is dedicated to the development of the provocative inscription "Hollywood", which was erected on the Hill of Badade, located near Palermo, Sicily. In recent years it has also produced a documentary entitled "Cattelan is dead! Yay Cattelan! "in which he imagines that the major Italian news speak about his death. Also in 2001 he devoted himself to the creation of another work, "Him", which represents Hitler kneeling in the Act of requesting forgiveness for the wrong he has committed. The goal of this art is to educate people that a man who committed an extermination as severe as the one against the Jews is hard to forgive.
In one of the streets of New York also has also opened a showcase, "Wrong Gallery", where you can make some art exhibitions. The world was a great success, but also gets many criticisms for his provocative works. On the occasion of an honorary degree which was awarded by the Faculty of Sociology of the University of Trento, pretending to be an ass, gives the University a taxidermied donkey. This work is called "a donkey among the doctors." During his stay in New York Cattelan creates, with contemporary art Paola Mafrin, a magazine: "Permanent Food", which represented the stolen pictures. Also in New York directs with Ali Subotnick and Massimiliano Gioni, the magazine "Charley". In 2006, he was called to treat the fourth Berlin biennial. Two years later he won the important achievement award that is awarded by the 15TH Rome Quadriennale. In private life he has an affair with tv presenter Victoria Cabello. He continues to fulfill his artistic masterpieces, gaining attention as a very popular character both in Italy and in the rest of the world.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.