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Davide Zanella’s presence at Art Capital Paris is situated within a current reflection on Pop Art as a living language, capable of transforming itself and narrating the present. Far from the ironic and consumerist celebration of its origins, pop here asserts itself as a narrative and critical tool—a means through which to question the collective imagination and its most recognizable myths.
Characters from the Marvel and DC universes, absolute icons of global visual culture, are reinterpreted as contemporary, “downcast” superheroes: powerful yet vulnerable figures, stripped of their traditional heroic aura and brought back to a deeply human dimension. They are no longer symbols of invincibility, but reflections of our daily contradictions, fragilities, and unfulfilled expectations. In this rereading, the superhero becomes a metaphor for contemporary humanity, called upon to be extraordinary in a world that often renders it tired, exposed, and imperfect.
The connection with Pop Art is evident in the iconographic and chromatic choices, yet it is surpassed through a new expressive awareness. If historical Pop Art transformed popular imagery into works of art, here the image becomes a surface for emotional and social storytelling. The audience recognizes familiar faces, symbols, and visual codes, but is invited to read them in an intimate, almost psychological key, within a constant tension between recognizability and disorientation.
Central to this research is the use of innovative techniques, particularly plexiglass, which is not conceived as a mere support but as an integral part of the artistic language. Transparencies, reflections, and material stratifications establish a direct dialogue with space and with the viewer, amplifying the theme of a fluid and fragmented identity. Plexiglass thus becomes a visual metaphor for contemporaneity: a brilliant and seductive surface that simultaneously allows complexity, depth, and ambiguity to emerge.
Within the context of Art Capital Paris—a venue rich in historical memory and exhibition tradition—this project stands out for its ability to speak the language of the present without renouncing the symbolic power of imagery. The curatorship by Tablinum Cultural Management accompanies and strengthens this vision, constructing a coherent path that brings together pop culture, formal research, and critical reflection, confirming contemporary pop as a fertile space for dialogue between art, society, and shared imagination.
Elisa Larese Moro
Art Historian