STATEMENT
My work references the land of my ancestors. Over the years, the elements of that land - the light, texture, shadows, color and the actual materials themselves - earth pigments, lime, marble dust - have formed the essence of an “inner landscape” and have become a reference point for my work. I was trained as a sculptor and the “feel” of the material is central to my work. The use of and commitment to unconventional handmade tactile materials is essential for me. I use an earth palette which includes handmade lime paint, pigments, graphite, handmade oil pastel, sand, dirt and straw. The creation of these materials in the studio is an essential component of my process. I build up the surface, adding layers, sometimes scraping away and often take a torch to what remains. This physical engagement establishes an intimate relationship with these active substances leading to a sense of immediacy, depth, and freshness.
ABOUT THE WORK
Orazio De Gennaro's abstract landscape paintings are rooted in his homeland, the region around Naples, Italy, near the ancient Roman sites of Pompei and Herculaneum. The artist writes, "The elements of my land - the light, texture, shadows, color and the actual materials themselves - earth pigments, lime, marble dust - have formed the essence of an "inner landscape" and have become a reference point for my work." De Gennaro began his artistic career in Italy as a sculptor. When he moved to New York in 1983, he transitioned to painting, but the importance of a tangible physicality remained central in his art. De Gennaro creates his oil pastels with wax, marble dust, and pigments, applying them on a thick impasto of lime and sand to achieve a texture at once tactile and sensuous that has the tangible presence of a sculptural piece. Among his most notable works is a monumental 27-foot abstract landscape he created for the lobby of the landmark Knickerbocker Hotel in Manhattan.