Salvatore Emblema: Alchemy of light & matter.
Written by Lena Pietrzak.
Salvatore Emblema, Untitled, 1969-70. White Cube Gallery
I first encountered Salvatore Emblema’s work earlier this year at White Cube in Paris. I use the word "encountered" because it felt like more than a simple gallery visit, it was an experience. At first glance, even without fully grasping the meaning behind the pieces, it was clear that Emblema’s work was deliberate and meticulous, infused with a profound sense of intention.
Having seen a great deal of art, I can say that some works linger in memory more than others, and Emblema’s certainly did. His paintings sparked questions: What was the central motif? Was I overlooking something essential? After thorough research, hampered by the scarcity of mainstream information about the artist, it became clear. The motif wasn’t just within the jute or the pigment but in how these elements interacted with their environment. The surrounding space, the light, and even the room itself became integral to his work, merging seamlessly to create a dialogue between art and setting. Emblema’s genius lies in this dynamic interplay, which continues to resonate long after leaving the gallery.
Salvatore Emblema, a distinguished 20th-century Italian painter, is celebrated for his innovative exploration of transparency and light. Emblema sought to dissolve the boundaries between art and nature, creating works that resonate as dynamic, living entities infused with light and materiality.
Deeply rooted in his native Terzigno, near Naples, Emblema’s art reflects the rugged landscape and luminous Mediterranean atmosphere of his homeland. His use of coarse, unprimed jute fabric, a material evocative of his volcanic surroundings, allowed light to permeate the canvas, transforming his works into an interplay between object and environment. By selectively removing threads from the jute, he further enhanced the dialogue between his art, the surrounding space, and the viewer, challenging the traditional notion of paintings as confined, self-contained objects.
Emblema’s exposure to Abstract Expressionism during his travels to the United States in the 1950s left a lasting impact, particularly through his interactions with artists like Mark Rothko. This influence, combined with his Mediterranean heritage, fostered a distinctive synthesis in his work, where bold abstraction intertwined with natural pigments and textures reminiscent of Mount Vesuvius’s terrain.
Salvatore Emblema embraced natural materials and organic elements in his art, including raw jute, leaves, volcanic earth, petrified lava, and oxidized metals. While Italy's post-war avant-garde flourished in the northern cities, Emblema charted an independent course, geographically and creatively. His work defied stylistic categorization, yet it remained deeply informed by the artistic currents of his era. This balance of autonomy and engagement defined an oeuvre that was both singular and reflective of broader contemporary concerns.
Though influenced by Rothko, Burri, and Fontana, Emblema pursued an independent path. Rejecting fleeting trends, he focused on a metaphysical investigation of light and substance, establishing transparency as both a conceptual and technical hallmark of his career. Despite limited mainstream acclaim, his innovative methods earned him recognition in Italian and international art circles. Today, his preserved home and studio in Terzigno stand as a testament to his enduring contributions to modern art.