GOD SAVE ANIME
Date from 30/03/2012 to 29/04/2012

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Sergio Cavallerin

Wow Museum in Milan, for the first time opens its doors to contemporary art, hosting a solo show of Sergio Cavallerin’s works: God Save Anime edited by Igor Zanti. The show will present a group of work inspired by the world of japanese manga, Italian and American comics. From March 30th to April 29th Cavallerin’s work will lead the public in an ironic and naughty process of reflection on the concept of icon and the reference models proposed by contemporary culture to the new generation. The title itself is a pun, a word play between the japanese
term “Anime” which indicates animation movies and the Italian word “Anime” which
literally means “souls” , precisely the spirit of young people that from comics take
inspiration and dreams. According to the artist, manga and comic heroes are increasingly becoming protagonists of a proper cult and they deserve to be elevated, in a challenging way, to the role of sacred images. It is in fact indubitable that some of the protagonists of the comics of the past have already become symbols of an age and of a society, and it is possible – and desirable, in the artist’s intentions – that this will happen with the characters of contemporary comics. Hence, this can be considered a further feature of Pop and Neo-Pop culture, that turns imaginary characters into mythology whence one extracts inspiration in daily life.
The exhibition itinerary unfolds through a selection of works on canvas and sculptures and culminates into the installation dedicated to Dragon Ball, which will reproduce a votive altar. To underline the cultural role of comics heroes, a performance will take place on the day of the opening. The performance will mark the ideal consecration of the altar: the consecration ceremony will follow an
imaginary cult inspired not only by Catholic religion but also by Shintoism and Buddhism and will include the participation of the artist and a group of cosplayers. The exhibition is organized with the patronage of Milan Town Hall.
On the opening day of the Art Fair AAM – Accessible Art Milan, a procession will
transfer the image of Dragon Ball from WOW Museum to the location of the Art
Fair: a group of cosplayers will depart from Piazzale Lotto transporting the painting inside the fair.

Sergio Cavallerin was born in Perugia (Italy) on the 15th of June 1957. He started his artistic activity very early, collaborating as an illustrator for both Italian and European advertising and publishing companies, newspapers and magazines.
The constant polyhedral research in visual expression leads Cavallerin to work in many areas, embracing graphic arts in their totality: from painting to drawings, from illustration to photography, from comics to cartoons. In 1983 he founded “Tratto” a satirical graphic magazine. At the same time he began his commitment for the spreading of American comics and Japanese manga in Italy, and contributed to the foundation of a new publishing company: Star Comics. In the ‘80s and ‘90s
he received increasing recognition for his cartoons and illustrations.
In 1993 Cavallerin founded the comics distributor company Star Shop. In 2000 publishes his first book Levitazioni (levitations) a collection of over 300 cartoons, some of which are now permanently exposed at the Museum House of Humour and Satire of Gabrovo (Bulgaria), at the Onu Gallery in New York and at the Aydin Dogan Foundation innTurkey. In 2004 Sergio Cavallerin created the collection called “Polimeri”: inspired by Pop Art, he observes contemporary society, reflects upon it and then extracts images, materials and objects from reality. Even if Cavallerin avoids to fall into easy criticism or condemnation, he does not renounce to look at the world with an ironic eye. The Polimeri collection has been exposed in all the major Italian cities and in Los Angeles, U.S.A. In December 2007 he published his second book "Felineide," a tribute to the Cat’s universe. Looking at these irreplaceable and sacred creatures with the eye of a lover and the pureness of heart of a child, Cavallerin analyzes both their presence in our technological society, and the poetic imaginary connected to these creatures. The images are accompanied by text of Vincenzo Mollica. In 2011 the Polimeri serie received many recognitions from public and critics and have been exhibited in Florence, Arezzo, at the beautiful “New Castle – Maschio Angioino” in Naples. Since October some canvas are on display in Malibu, California. In july 2011 Cavallerin has been selected for te participation to the 26th International Biennial of Humorism in Art in Tolentino, Italy.