Elisabetta Benassi

Elisabetta Benassi (Rome, 1966)
With references to the artistic and political culture of 20th century, to psychoanalysis as well as to controversial contemporary topics, Elisabetta Benassi’s work runs along a difficult space, that of the present.

In her artistic production there is a recurrent use of installations, videos, and photography which function as devices to initiate not only strong emotional suggestions, but also to provide a new moral focus in the viewer.
In the background, pressing questions loom on present condition and identity, on their relationships with the past and a push to reconsider it in a new light.

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Artworks

Elisabetta Benassi

EMPIRE

2018
Six thousand English black and purple firebricks, one bronze brick covered with gold leaf
25 x 11,5 x 8 cm each | 195 x 1015 x 369 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

Pietre di Testa (Jannis Kounellis)

2022
Print from lithographic stone with Eugène Brasset press, on Sicars Graphia 310g paper
81 x 60 cm | Edition of 10 + 5AP

Elisabetta Benassi

Dealing Cards

2022
Glazed ceramics
Three elements, 30 x 44 x 3 cm each

Elisabetta Benassi

Dealing Cards

2022
Glazed ceramics
Two elements, 44 x 30 x 3 cm each

Elisabetta Benassi

Elisabetta Benassi, Banca Carige

2021
Watercolor on paper
50 x 61 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

Lady and Gentlemen

2021
Refrigerator, watercolor on paper
47 x 38 x 44,5 cm
Three elements
Detail of the installation view at Fondazione Pini, Milan, 2021

Elisabetta Benassi

Lady and Gentlemen

2021
Refrigerator, watercolor on paper
47 x 38 x 44,5 cm
Three elements
Detail of the installation view at Fondazione Pini, Milan, 2021

Elisabetta Benassi

Lady and Gentlemen

2021
Refrigerator, watercolor on paper
47 x 38 x 44,5 cm
Three elements
Detail of the installation view at Fondazione Pini, Milan, 2021

Elisabetta Benassi

La CittĂ  Sale

2021
Salt, hydraulic lifts
Variable dimensions
Installation view at MAXXI, L'Aquila

Elisabetta Benassi

Cosciente Solidale

2020
Hand-knotted wool carpet
265 x 380 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

EMPIRE

2019
Terracotta bricks
Installation view at Palazzo Altemps, Rome

Elisabetta Benassi

EMPIRE

2019
Terracotta bricks
Installation view at Palazzo Altemps, Rome

Elisabetta Benassi

Prosperity

2017
Automated ironing machine, vapour
157 x 100 x 120 cm
Installation view at Collezione Maramotti
Ph. Andrea Rossetti

Elisabetta Benassi

Zeitnot

2017
Five thousand English firebricks
175 x 500 x 380 cm
Installation view at Collezione Maramotti
Ph. Andrea Rossetti

Elisabetta Benassi

Shadow work

2017
English firebricks, Eastern carpets
103 x 550 x 435 cm
Installation view at Collezione Maramotti
Ph. Andrea Rossetti

Elisabetta Benassi

It starts with the firing

2017
Five metal elements, posters, audio track
Dimensions variable
Installation view at Collezione Maramotti
Ph. Andrea Rossetti

Elisabetta Benassi

Infinity

2017
Bronze, wood wedges, gloves
310 x 40 x 47 cm
Installation view at Collezione Maramotti
Ph. Andrea Rossetti

Elisabetta Benassi

Unknown Here

2016
Hand-knotted wool carpet
300 x 397 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

Mareo Merz

2013
Boat, car, fishing net
Installation view at Maxxi, Rome

Elisabetta Benassi

Letargo

2016
Ford Escort, bronze, soil
Two elements, 20 x 40 x 60 cm each
Installation view at Magazzino, 2016

Elisabetta Benassi

Letargo

2016
Ford Escort, bronze, soil
Environmental dimensions
Installation view at Magazzino

Elisabetta Benassi

Mimetica

2016
Artificial palm tree, steel, resin, natural fiber, polypropylene
310 x 300 x 690 cm
Installation view at Magazzino, 2016

Elisabetta Benassi

Autoritratto a lavoro (Self-Portrait at Work)

2016
Motor Hoe (Meccanica Benassi)
105 x 70 x 140 cm
Installation view at Magazzino

Elisabetta Benassi

Salamandra ZAF

2016
Steel and car emblems
171 x 350 cm
Installation view at Magazzino

Elisabetta Benassi

That’s Me In The Picture (post-card)

2016
Double-sided inkjet print on rice paper, walnut wood
210 x 110 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

Road Rage

2016
Found truck tyre, gilded bronze
105 x 105 x 30 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

M’FUMU

2015
Cast ceramic plaster, ink, steel
Installation view at Belgian Pavilion, 56th Venice Biennal

Elisabetta Benassi

GGGSSSPPPPPPTTTRRRRRRGGGNNN

2014
Bronze
Dimensions variable

Elisabetta Benassi

Corsaro

2014
Performance, Maxxi, Rome

Elisabetta Benassi

GSPPTRRGN

2014
Bronze
60 x 40 x 43 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

Pausa lavoro (Mensa in fabbrica)

2013
Metal, laminated wood, motor, electronic switch, electric wires
76 Ă— 600 Ă— 90 cm
Installation view at Fondazione Merz, Turin, 2013

Elisabetta Benassi

Passato e presente

2013
Book, wrought iron nail
18,5 x 11,5 x 9 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

The Dry Salvages

2013
10.000 hand-made bricks, sand and 1 book
Site-specific installation at Italian Pavilion, 55th Venice Biennale

Elisabetta Benassi

The Dry Salvages

2013
10.000 hand-made bricks, sand and 1 book
Site-specific installation at Italian Pavilion, 55th Venice Biennale

Elisabetta Benassi

The Dry Salvages

2013
10.000 hand-made bricks, sand and 1 book
Site-specific installation at Italian Pavilion, 55th Venice Biennale

Elisabetta Benassi

Finalmente solo, finalmente tutti

2013
2 morse lamps, 2 tripods, electromagnets, electronic control unit, wood and electrical wires
Dimensions variable
Installation view at Fondazione Merz, Turin, 2013

Elisabetta Benassi

Make War Together, Make Peace Together

2013
Hand-knotted wool carpet
400 x 300 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

The Bullet-Proof Angela Davis

2011
Steel and plexiglass structure, tape recorder, electric wire, watercolour on paper (30 x 29 cm)
240 x 200 x 140 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

The Innocents Abroad

2011
9 automatized microfiche readers, microfiche, tables, neon lights, electronic unit, electric wires
Each Unit 140 x 60 x 60 cm
Installation view at the 54th Venice Biennale, curated by Bice Curiger, Corderie dell’Arsenale, Venice
Collection Matteo Viglietta S.p.A., Collezione La Gaia, Busca, Cuneo
Courtesy Photo © Claudio Abate

Elisabetta Benassi

Stalin

2010
Watercolor and pencil on paper
40 x 33 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

Feltrinelli

2010
Watercolor, pencil and marker pen on paper
36,5 x 30,5 cm
Collection Castello di Rivoli, Turin

Elisabetta Benassi

Picasso

2012
Watercolor and pencil on paper
42 x 35 cm

Elisabetta Benassi

Telegram from Buckminster Fuller to Isamu Noguchi Explaining Einstein’s Theory of Relativity

2009
Hand-knotted wool carpet
500 x 618 cm
Installation view at Art Unlimited, Basel 2009

Elisabetta Benassi

Alfa Romeo GT Veloce 1975-2007

2007
Automobile with side lights, headlights and main beams on, transformer, electric cables
150 x 160 x 430 cm
Courtesy of Unicredit Group Collection – on long-term loan to MAXXI, Rome
Installation view of Luce di pietra, Palazzo Farnese, Rome

Elisabetta Benassi

MIRAGE#3

2005
Videotape DV-CAM PAL colour sound, transferred on DVD
3’00”

Elisabetta Benassi

Timecode

2000
Videotape Beta SP, PAL Colour Sound, 3’ 40”
With: Elisabetta Benassi, Davide Leonardi
Camera: Jacqueline ZĂĽnd

Exhibitions

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Highlights