“`html
Roméo mivekannin’s “Black Mirror” Exhibition at Maramotti Collection
Table of Contents
A critical look at the artist’s exploration of identity and human condition through black velvet canvases.
By Anya Schmidt | REGGIO EMILIA – 2025/06/23 07:51:22
The interplay of “Black Velvet” and “Black Mirror” defines Romeo Mivekannin‘s latest artistic endeavor. “Black Velvet” serves as the foundation for his collection of eighteen pieces created over the past two years. “Black Mirror,” the title of his inaugural Italian solo exhibition, hosted at the Maramotti Collection in Reggio Emilia, reflects the artist’s introspective exploration, evident in each of his predominantly large-scale acrylic works.
Black mirror showcases Mivekannin’s talent, presenting a rich iconographic universe that invites viewers to contemplate the human experience. The figures within each canvas challenge our perceptions and probe our conscience.
Roméo Mivekannin, Black Mirror, Exhibition View, Maramotti Collection, Reggio Emilia, © Roméo Mivekannin, by Siae 2025 Roberto Marossi” width=”2560″ height=”1707″ srcset=”https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-1-300×200.jpg 300w, https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-1-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-1-768×512.jpg 768w, https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-1-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-1-2048×1365.jpg 2048w, https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-1-1170×780.jpg 1170w, https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-1-740×494.jpg 740w, https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-1-600×400.jpg 600w” sizes=”(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px” />The initial encounter within the project wall is striking. “Speaking Avec Elle (Pina Bausch)” stands as the exhibition’s largest painting, drawing inspiration from Pedro Almodóvar‘s film “Talk to Her” and it’s connection to dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch.Mivekannin employs dance, a central ritual in manny African cultures, as a universal language to bridge cultures. The artwork depicts men and women, each bearing the artist’s face, set against a black velvet backdrop, while the left side of the space is shrouded in darkness.
The north room of the Maramotti Collection evokes the atmosphere of a church nave, showcasing nine works, including four inspired by recognizable Caravaggeschi subjects. Pieces such as “D’Aperès Madeleine suddenly. The Caravage (1593-1594),” “D’APRès le crucifiement de Saint Pierre. The Caravage (1593-1594),” “D’Aperès la Conversion de Saint Paul.Le Caravage (1593-1594),” and “Le Martyr de Saint Mathieu. The Caravage (1593-1594)” demonstrate the artist’s inspiration, with each title indicating the year of realization. These reinterpretations feature Mivekannin’s face in place of the original figure. The characteristic darkness of Caravaggio is amplified by the black velvet, creating a reflective mirror effect. Mivekannin also presents “Adam et Eve Chassés de l’eden. Masaccio (1424-1425),” further highlighting his connection to classical art.
The exhibition continues with pieces like “D’Aperès l’origine du monde. Gustave Courbet (1866),” a provocative reinterpretation, and “Olympia. Edouard Manet (1863),” where the black model Laure holds a bouquet of flowers,challenging conventional representations. Mivekannin’s self-portraits are interspersed throughout, creating a dialog between the artist and art history.
In the central room,Mivekannin pays homage to Nicolas Régnier with “D’Aperès Saint Sébastien,Nicolas Régnier (XVII Siècle),” depicting the martyr upside down.The sensual light on the sculpted body contrasts with the black velvet, creating a powerful visual effect. “D’Aperès the shipwrecks de don Juan d’Aperès Delacroix (1840)” evokes both poetry and tragedy, juxtaposing a great artist with the suffering of African migrants attempting to enter Europe. Mivekannin’s critical commentary highlights the migrants’ embrace of the sea.
“It was not the sea that welcomed migrants, but the migrants welcomed the sea with open arms.”
The exhibition concludes with “D’Aperès Holy motors,Leos Carax (2012),” a tribute to the film’s protagonist and its themes of audacity and iconic contamination. The artwork features a figure holding the naked body of a man, creating a complex and thought-provoking image.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is black velvet painting?
- Black velvet painting is an art form characterized by the application of vibrant colors to a black velvet canvas, creating a unique luminous effect.
- Who is Roméo Mivekannin?
- Roméo Mivekannin is a contemporary artist known for his introspective explorations of identity and the human condition through his art.
- Where is the “Black Mirror” exhibition held?
- The “Black Mirror” exhibition is held at the Maramotti Collection in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
