Milan

Interesting, 2006, White animals, Life size, produced by Fondazione Nicola Trussardi, Milano. Photo by Marco De Scalzi

by JEFF RIAN

Paola Pivi’s exhibition at the Trussardi Foundation in Milan of white birds, dogs, sheep, goats, fish, a horse, a cat, a donkey, and a llama, like a living monochrome. Beyond abstraction?

Italian artist Paola Pivi studied engineering and dabbled in cartoon drawing before taking classes at the art academy in Milan, at 24. She thought she’d study drawing. One day, wandering through the school, she stumbled upon a class where the teacher had students install their works in a pristine white room. Their discussions turned around the problems of contemporary art. This was her first experience of contemporary art, which turned out to be something she was drawn to and felt she could do.

As a student Pivi came up with the idea of…