Forbidden World

The exhibition illustrates Savini’s artistic journey, which has grown from a specific material, chewing gum, and the most ‘pop’ colour possible: bubblegum pink. After being introduced to Europe at the end of WWII, chewing gum became a symbol of the new era, together with Coca-Cola and nylon stockings, and has continued to permeate contemporary culture ever since. Cream and strawberry chewing gum become, in Savini’s hands, a medium that allows him to engage in attentive analysis about aspects of universal issues such as, for example, geopolitics and the human condition. Savini investigates the relationships between human beings, as well as their paradoxes and dichotomies, through hypermodern aesthetics borrowed from contemporary culture’s popular icons. In so do-ing, he creates a series of snapshots of contemporary identity.

The ideas and techniques presented in Forbidden World have been twenty years in the making. The pieces shown represent a synthesis of Savini’s style, whilst also illustrating his latest artistic evolution. The exhibition brings together Savini’s recent works, including several that have never been seen in public before. Whilst the artist’s first chewing gum works were created with a mosaic technique, and in the obnoxiously artificial pink colouring of chewing gum, the pieces shown illustrate his evolution towards a pictorial method, where he dyes untreated gum to imitate the broad colour palette of paint. Over the course of his career, Savini has expanded on his technical skills, which has brought him to some surprising evolutions, as can be seen in the iPad and iPhone series.

To accompany the exhibition, a catalogue has been created to illustrate the evolution of Savini’s work, as well as to consolidate the public’s understanding of his unique perspective. An exhibition-focused mobile app is also available for download on the App Store and on Google Play, which features descriptions for selected artworks, information on Savini and his chosen medium, and a virtual tour of the gallery.