Vito Mele was born in Prescicce, Apulia, in 1942. When he was 16 he decided to move to Milan, wherehe lives. During his professional path, he has managedsome of the most important companies at global level, leaders in the field of artistic medal production, prizes and bronzes, where he had the chance of getting also in touch with the most famous artists.

It is the close contact with this entourage of artists that fed his artistic interest until when he decided to attend the school “Umanitaria” of Milan under the lead of Master Franco Fossa and after that the course of painting at Sforzesco Castle in Milan.

In 1990, the turning point: he goes from painting to sculpture taking inspiration from his country, Salento, located in the South of Italy, giving birth to objects d’arts in bronze, which represents the nature, integrating religious features. In 2004 he created the first sculptures on “Introspection of cosmic”, which are distinguished among his pieces as some of the most signifi cant: “Una Porta verso la Luce” (A Door towards the light), “La Porta della Pace” (The Door of Peace), “Una Luce verso il Mondo” (A Light towards the World).

His sculpture technique reminds of a dolmen, which has an historical period of time through which it becomes a totem, as archetype, future memory which defines its origin. Mele collects in the perfection of a sphere all the richness of the original nucleus of life, a san egg, unicellular organism.

Through the matter: marble, bronze, stone and olive tree, enter in the classic cosmogony symbolism approaching a new mystic interpretation of history.

He has taken part in different exposition, both collective and personal. Since 2005 he is part of Authors of Permanente of Milan. He carries on his work in his studio, in the foundries and in Carrara.

ART REVIEW, AN INTROSPECTIVE PATH

Vito Mele’s sculptures boast a very rare particularity, that typical “verism” of those who have experienced different phases of life and different experiences. Observing the artistic excursus of the sculptur, it is not difficult to understand how the artist personal experience is reflected into its masterpieces. Born in Apulia, “adopted” from the city of Milan, Mele has always been faithful to its origins. The territory has become the most expressive tool for this artist, thus without being boring or iterative.

Over the years he has been able to recognize the wisdom and the knowledge of its cultural background, making of it his distinctive trademark. In this way, during his long artistic career, he has come through unforgettable realistic pieces, which call to mind tastes and perfumes of the Salento landscape. Olive tree, Grapevine, Blown Almond, Pomegranate are only a few of the sculpture with naturalistic theme of Vito Mele. What strikes the attention of the audience is the feeling of adaptability he is able to work with on bronze. Shapes, always complex and reach of particulars, look like moving, as if they were placed in their natural environment. Every piece is full of strong emotional counterpoints, where it can be recognized the experience of an expert artist.

Do not forget that Vito Mele is a painter borrowed to the sculpture, inside whom the artistic tradition, from what he comes from, has moulded the big capacity of accomplishing the assignment of revising the piece of work, making it “moving” inside the imaginary spaces, still so touchable.

Vito Mele’s sculpture is also sharing of those feelings and frame of mind that the sculpture is able to impress not only on bronze or marble, but also in the soul of the addressed audience.

Mele takes a tab in three-dimension of harmonic piece of works, where, unified to the naturalist language the importance of faith and hope is perceived. Some of the most recent pieces of work are: “Una Luce verso il Mondo” ( A Light towards the World), “Segni nel Tempo” (Signs through Time), “Metamorfosi” (Metamorphosis), “La Porta della Pace” (The Door of Peace), “In Cerca di un Mondo Migliore” (Looking for a Better World), “Serenità” (Serenity), “Apriamo le Porte al nuovo Mondo” (Let’s open the Door to a new World).

Those are the topics that Mele cares about, life and nature crossing each other in a game made of balances, at an half way between aesthetics and symbolism, between reality and divine. As a new Leopold Bloom, among James Joyce’s favourite characters, Vito Mele makes an introspective trip looking for that knowledge which is waiting of that serenity and peace that we have been yearned for too much time, cheered up by the strength of faith. 

ARTIST’S CONTACTS

VITO MELE

Via del convento, 4 - 20024

Garbagnate Milanese, Milano

Tel. +39 02 9958891

Mobile. +39 347 9344827

www.vitomele.it

www.museomele.it

MATCHING PROFILE ON S2B VITO MELE

http://www.vitomele.it/catalogo_opere_2010.html