An exhibition through art, monsters, and creative alchemy
Elena Salmistraro’s art finds its most intimate and experimental expression in the exhibition “Alchimie nel Vuoto”, curated by Silvana Annicchiarico and hosted at the Antonio Colombo Gallery in Milan from 28 November 2024 to 8 February 2025. Through drawings, sculptures, and multimedia works, Salmistraro explores the void not as emptiness, but as fertile ground for creation and reflection.
In the exhibition, Salmistraro embraces painting and drawing to bring forth a series of symbolic creatures that challenge the ordinary, revealing a complex and multidimensional inner world. Her works play with contrasts of textures, colours, and forms, transforming the space into a setting where visitors are invited to explore their own imaginations.
Silvana Annicchiarico, the curator, describes the exhibition as a “dialogue between opposites” where void and fullness merge to create new and intriguing alchemies.
In a conversation with Elena Salmistraro, we delved into the significance of the exhibition and her artistic journey. When asked how “Alchimie nel Vuoto” fits into her professional and artistic path and what inspired this exploration of the concept of the void, she responded:
«I’ve always been reluctant to share my most intimate drawings, those works born from an inner need, separate from the commercial demands that define much of my work. However, painting has always been a source of release for me, a chance for inner analysis and research. Drawing allows me to explore things in depth, to visualise them, and in some way to exorcise them. When Colombo asked me if I would be willing to show this side of myself, a part that has perhaps remained implicit and never revealed until now, I thought: why not? The time had come.There were so many sketches and reflections, but thanks to the careful eye of Silvana Annicchiarico, the curator, I found a direction. Her external perspective was crucial in identifying the theme to explore: fears, monsters, the void. Thus was born “Alchimie nel Vuoto”, another part of me, different yet complementary. It probably represents the origin of everything, that inner exploration that generates forms, visions, and ideas, and that, through numerous stages, takes shape in the objects and forms that define my work.»
Salmistraro’s work is known for its highly recognisable illustrative graphic style, which she has skillfully translated into the development of products and installations. Reflecting on her professional development and what we can expect in the future, she explained:
«My journey is one of constant evolution, without imposed limits. I studied art at secondary school, fashion and design at university, and I am fascinated by illustration and street art. These interests have shaped my work over the years. I don’t believe I’ve invented anything new, but I’ve selected, blended, investigated, and reinterpreted my passions, trying to do it my way, with a personal language. Perhaps it’s this hybrid approach, straddling various disciplines, that has allowed me to explore and rework codes and aspects in a natural way, guided only by the pleasure and passion for what I do. If I had to say what I will do tomorrow, I would reply that it will be whatever stimulates me the most, because monotony is what I fear the most. Although I am quite methodical and habitual in my personal life, in my work I always need to face new challenges, keeping a consistent language but finding new ways to express it.»
Her visual style is often defined by bold use of colours, textures, and organic forms. When asked how she manages to balance complexity and harmony in her work, she indicated:
«I believe the credit goes to drawing and painting. Facing a blank canvas, that void, often induces a kind of fear, a horror vacui that must be confronted and balanced. Over time, I have learned to manage shapes and volumes within a well-defined space, the so-called ‘composition weights’. This aspect has always fascinated me, and I discovered that it’s universally valid when it comes to composition and design. The precise placement of a line or the correct scale of a seat are much more similar processes than one might think. Over the years, this has also become a challenge with myself, starting to layer more and more elements and various levels of interpretation. In the end, it’s a game—a serious game. The same goes for colours, which play a fundamental role in my work. When I paint, for example, I rarely use colours as they are found in stores; I usually recreate them, mix them to produce new shades, saturations, and vibrations. To manage the colours in this collection effectively, I had to catalogue and number all the shades I created, and it was a very complex job.»
The motif of the mask seems to hold a recurring symbolic role in her work, as we see in the piece “La Maschera d’Oro”. Regarding the significance of the mask, how it has evolved in his creative journey as a fantastic element, and how he thinks it influences the public’s perception, she replied:
«Masks have always fascinated me because I consider them symbols of change and protection. Initially, I was drawn to them for their aesthetic value, but in this painting, I wanted to use them as a filter to explore identity and the mystery hidden behind people, highlighting the complexity of the human being and its facets. The mask thus takes on a deeper meaning, becoming a bridge between the visible and the invisible, between the earthly and the divine. Of course, the fantastic element plays a central role, because only through imagination is it possible to transcend everyday reality and envision future scenarios.In painting, as opposed to design, this element allows me to express myself with greater freedom, exploring a space where the rules of reality are suspended and anything becomes possible. As for the audience’s perception, I believe that the fantastic not only fascinates and intrigues but also invites reflection on the relationship between what we perceive and what we desire.Imagination is, for me, the heart of this work: without dreams and imagination, we cannot create what might one day become reality. It is undoubtedly the most powerful means to bring new creations to life, whether in art or objects, as it is both a sensory and intellectual experience.»
“Alchimie nel Vuoto” offers a profound immersion into Salmistraro’s artistic vision, where the void becomes a starting point for explorations rich in meaning and nuances. The exhibition stands as a unique opportunity for the public to connect with the artist’s world, filled with monsters, symbols, and alchemies that invite reflection on one’s identity and the complexities of human nature.
