Una biblioteca di sensazioni a Roma nella mostra di Gabriele Simei. L’intervista
Artist Gabriele Simei has transformed the VOLUME! art space in Rome into an immersive installation titled "LABiblioteca Sottotevere." Curated by Silvano Manganaro, the exhibition features metal sculptures shaped like books, alongside found objects such as old lace, blankets, and tools. Simei uses acid to etch the textures of leaves gathered from the banks of the Tiber River and vintage textiles onto iron and brass plates, creating a "library of sensations" that bridges the gap between nature and domestic memory.
This exhibition highlights Simei’s long-standing fascination with the book as a vessel for cultural and natural history. By elevating discarded materials and organic matter through industrial processes, the artist explores the unpredictable chemistry of oxidation and the preservation of fading traditions. The project underscores the importance of the Magliana district's landscape as a creative catalyst, turning the gallery into an intimate space where personal nostalgia meets universal themes of time and decay.