1997-1998

Luigi Ontani

CasanovAgliostro

Audio guide

Sepia toned, black and white photograph printed on paper and watercoloured

This work depicts a recurring theme in Ontani’s works: tarot cards. As someone familiar with Italian might guess from the title, “CasanovAgliostro” is the combination of two famous people: Casanova in the upper section and Cagliostro in the lower one.

1997-1998

Luigi Ontani

CasanovAgliostro

Sepia toned, black and white photograph printed on paper and watercoloured

Audio guide

This work depicts a recurring theme in Ontani’s works: tarot cards. As someone familiar with Italian might guess from the title, “CasanovAgliostro” is the combination of two famous people: Casanova in the upper section and Cagliostro in the lower one.

Casanova has an egg on his head, clearly symbolising birth, but also a reference to Montovolo, the artist’s birthplace, which in English could translate basically as Egg Mountain. Furthermore, there are three rough bricks, ready to build the Casa Nova (literally, new house), giving rise to a witty pun and an enigmatic tarot card that can be turned upside down, a nod to lightness.

In the same way, Cagliostro is another pun in the artist’s language. Ontani wears a wig of aglio (garlic) and garments of ostrica (oysters). This constant use of puns in the titles of his works shows Luigi Ontani sees art as fun, an escape from daily life.