Antonio Testolin

Antonio Testolin

http://antoniotestolin.com
https://www.instagram.com/testolinantonio/

A theme of his work is the need to express indignation with the challenging influences that society imposes on the human experience, as well as the journey of self-growth in becoming our fullest version of self. The work tends to include idealized human forms that serves as an icon, a representation of human potential that ultimately conflicts with societal pressures and limitations. The beauty, grace, and strength within the human form is used as a metaphor for the rebirth or rethinking of society. In using this motif, his goal is that the emotional expression of the work is not overpowering, but subtle imagery with the intent that it can leave the viewer with a more open and accepting frame of mind. The intent is to be provocative and haunting in symbolism with the purpose to influence people to rethink their connection to humanity in a positive way. Viewing the work, there is a visual interlude between encompassing figures and the abstraction of forms. Figures peering out from the surface in juxtaposition to the abstract forms from which they emerge are woven into the piece with a harmonious sense of movement.

Being of Italian descent and raised in Italy as a youth, he was exposed to marble sculpture. Seeing and touching huge marble sculptures, made a lasting impression. As an adult, those early impressions drew him back several times to Italy after his formal education at the UW-Madison, to learn marble carving techniques of stone carving from Italian master carvers. he now embraced this medium and its three-dimensional qualities.
The touch of marble and bronze with its essence of permanence, enlivens him When carving, or bronze working he constantly intrigued as to how those materials transforms from rough and jagged surfaces to smooth and polished forms. His sensitively to textures, and how the emerging, undulating shapes can evoke a sensual quality. He explores the relation of marble to other materials such as bronze, stainless steel, and wood. Finding the contrast and connections between these materials. of these materials fascinating.

He has two public commission sculptures in Madison, Wisconsin; The Greenbush Memorial on Regent Street and marble sculpture on permeant display in the Madison Public Library downtown, as well as many works in private collections.

1996 Induction into Royal Society of British Sculptors