Enrico Scotta (born 15 September 1949) is an Italian painter and sculptor.Bianchi, G. & Durati, M. (eds.) (1984). Arte in Umbria. Enciclopedia Artisti Umbri, Todi: Editrice Sigla Tre, pp. 549–552.Gerhard, K. (ed.) (2000). Künstlerverzeichnis. Große Kreisstadt Radebeul: König & Bauer AG. He has worked and exhibited in Italy, Germany, and Brazil.
Early life and education Enrico Scotta was born in 1949 in Perugia, Italy, where he studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti. He qualified in drawing, painting and ceramics, and later trained in the restoration of paintings.Seitz, G. (2015). Dresdner Künstler im Blick. In 190 + 9 Ateliers [in German]. Dresden: Typostudio Schumacher Gebler, pp. 200, 201, 327. . .
Since 1998 he has been based in Radebeul, Germany (near Dresden), where his gallery is located.
Artistic career Scotta's paintings and sculptures are inspired by the archetypal myths and symbols of different cultures, and by female beauty and its association with creation and regeneration. These often-symbolic representations draw upon the physical and historical qualities of natural materials and man-made artefacts.
Scotta was initially inspired by the frescoes, paintings and historic monuments from the Etruscan, Roman, medieval and Renaissance past of Perugia. His early works draw mainly on European myths. Later, during his long stay in Latin America, his studies of pre-Columbian history and cultures in Mexico and Peru strongly influenced his works. One example of this is the extensive art project "O Povo do Sol e o Povo da Escuridão" (The people of the Sun; the People of the Darkness),A mitologia dos pré-colombianos na obra de Enrico Scotta. (1989, November 14). O Estado De São Paulo, Suplemento De Turismo, p 9.Enrico Scotta. As civilizaçðes pré-colombianas inspiraram o artista. (1989, November 22). Veja em São Paulo, Exposições, p. 135.Artes Plásticas: Enrico Scotta. (1989, November 6). Folha De São Paulo, São Paulo, Illustrada, p. F6.Trabalho de Enrico Scotta. (1989, November 17). Folha Da Tarde, São Paulo, p. 5.Artes plásticas: Enrico Scotta. (1989, November 18). Folha Da Tarde, São Paulo, p. 24.Artes plásticas: Enrico Scotta. (1989, November 11). Folha Da Tarde, São Paulo, p. 21. which focuses on ancient Aztec civilisation, its myths, its gods, and its total destruction during the Spanish conquest.Giudici, G. (1989, November 20). Il noto pittore italiano Enrico Scotta espone nuovamente a San Paolo. I popoli del sole e del buio. Il Corriere, p. 11.Sol e Escuridão. (1989, November 5). Diário Popular, p. 6.
The Brazilian Brooklin News noted on the exhibition of this project that "Enrico Scotta captured the attention of everyone, collectors and critics, for the perfection of his technique and his inventive spirit. For this exhibition he was honoured with the award 'Super Cap de Ouro' [as the Brazilian 'Artist of the year']."O pintor italiano Enrico Scotta expõe no Espaço D'Artefacto. (1989, November 3). Brooklin News, São Paulo, p. 2. (" Enrico Scotta chamou a atenção de todos, colecionadores e críticos, pela sua técnica apuradíssima bem como pelo seu espírito inventivo. Essa mostra Ihe valéu o prémio "Super Cap de Ouro".).Troféu Super Cap de Ouro/89 – Enrico Scotta. (1989, December 1). BIBI Augusta – O Jornal dos Jardins e Itaím, São Paulo, p. 8.Troféu Super Cap de Ouro – o Oscar Brasileiro, Troféu Super Cap de Ouro/89 – Enrico Scotta. (1989, December 1). Interior News, Publicação conjunta: Jornal Zona Sul, Jornal Bibi Augusta, Jornal Brooklin News, Jornal do Morumbi, Jornal Higienópolis, Jornal Butantã News, São Paulo, p. 8."O Prêmio Super Cap de Ouro [foi] criado por Ronaldo Côrtes [e é considerado] o Oscar Brasileiro. [O prêmio é organizado pelo grupo jornalístico Ronaldo Côrtes e JBA - Jornais Associados] tem como objetivo premiar e homenagear os profissionais de diversos setores que se destacaram no ano anterior.", in 'Brasil está de luto pela morte do jornalista Ronaldo Côrtes'. (September 9, 2012). Associação Brasileira de Imprensa e Mídia Eletrônica.
Another cycle of paintings inspired by Aztec culture is Scotta's lunar cycle "Ilhuicatl Meztli" (The Celestial Path of the Moon), comprising eight round canvases.Pinkert, W. (February 22, 1994). Aztekische Kult-Symbole in modernisierter Gestalt.Werke des italienischen Malers Enrico Scotta. Sächsische Zeitung, p. 12. The Moon Goddess represents the waxing and waning phases of the moon, together with many of the associated Aztec symbols. This cycle of paintings uses the female goddess to symbolise the generative power of the Universe,Jaegersberg, G. (ed.) (2014, revised edition). Ilhuicatl Meztli. Enrico Scotta. Berlin: Epubli GmbH. . OCLC 872704201. p. 5 (Registered on the global WorldCat library catalogue system). which Scotta stated as, "La femminilità è l'espressione divina della creazione universale." ("Woman is the divine expression of universal creation.")Jägersberg, G. (ed.) (2014, revised edition). Ilhuicatl Meztli. Enrico Scotta, p. 2.
Scotta created his own mythical cosmos using recurring archetypal symbols and images that echoed across history, such as the "Great Earth Mother", priestesses, the Uroboros, the phoenix, the tree of life, the moon, fertility goddesses, water creatures and hermaphrodites.Jägersberg, G. (ed.) (2013). Das Universum ist rund. Enrico Scotta. Berlin: Epubli GmbH. . OCLC 864661463. p. 6. (Registered on the global WorldCat library catalogue system).
His work also highlights his long fascination with the qualities of materials such as stone and the historical and cultural stories embodied in them.Kelch, S. (1996). Spur der Steine. Das Magazin, 3, pp. 60 – 61. In a series of paintings, stone reliefs interact with the figures and objects in ways which play on their different qualities.Weißflog, H. (1994, September 24/25). Mondschein-Aktion zwischen Sein und Stein. Der Künstler Enrico Scotta und der Frauenkirchen-Wiederaufbau. Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten, p. 9. This fascination is also evident in projects such as "Pedra e Ferro" ("Stone and Iron")A arte de Enrico Scotta traz as marcas do tempo nas obras. (1988, August 8). Diário Popular, São Paulo, p. 5.Exposições: Enrico Scotta. (1988, August 20). Veja em São Paulo, p. 98.Visuais: Enrico Scotta. (1988, August, 10) O Estado De São Paulo, p. 8.Giacomelli, D. (1988, August 15). Espone a San Paulo il pittore Perugino iperrealista Enrico Scotta.La realtà della materia. Il Corriere, p. 9.Artes Plásticas: Enrico Scotta - obras mais caras vendidas na semana.(1988, August 8). Folha De São Paulo, p. 40. in Brazil, for which he was honoured as the Brazilian 'Artist of the year' (Troféu Super Cap Ouro).Troféu Super Cap de Ouro 88. (1988, December 30). Jornal Zona Sul, Publicação conjunta: Jornal Bibi Augusta, Jornal Brooklin News, Jornal do Morumbi, Jornal Interior News, Jornal Higienópolis, Jornal Butantã News, p. 9.Super Cap Ouro 88., O "Oscar Brasileiro" – A festa do ano aconteceu no Gallery.São Paulo. (1988, December 23). BIBI Augusta – O Jornal dos Jardins e Itaím, p. 9.
In Germany, "Sand – Stein – Kirche" ("Sand – Stone – Church") was a project about the Dresden Frauenkirche presented in Dresden,Vostry, L. (1995, February 10). Frauenkirchen-Visionen in plastischem Sandstein. Ausstellung "Sand-Stein-Kirche" im Verkehrsmuseum. Sächsische Zeitung, p. 12.Ruf, C. (1995, February 10). Sand-Stein-Kirche" im Verkehrsmuseum. Vom Sand zur Kirche. Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten, pp. 1, 7.Petereit, E.-U. (1995) Der Stein stirbt nicht. Das Frauenkirchen-Projekt von Enrico Scotta. Dresdner – Die Illustrierte der Stadt, 2, pp. 1, 3, 8.Frauenkirche bei "Dresden 2000". (1995, June 13). Sächsische Zeitung, p. 12.Sagor, R. (1996, February 14). Von altem Sand bis zur Vision Ausstellung im Landtag: Arbeiten von Enrico Scotta. Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten, p. 14.Sagor, R. (1995, December 5). Die Frauenkirche in Bildern aus Sand. Enrico Scottas Werk ab Februar in Dresden zu sehen. Sächsische Zeitung, p. 12.Klemm, B. (1996, February 13). Ausstellung zum Thema Sand-Stein-Kirche eröffnet. Enrico Scotta zeigt Visionen zur Frauenkirche. Sächsische Zeitung, p. 9.Dobbertien, U. (1994, September 23). Frauenkirche aus Sand. Der italienische Künstler Enrico Scotta arbeitet an einem gigantischen Zyklus: 80 Werke über das protestantische Wahrzeichen Dresdens. Dresdner Morgenpost, p. 8. Weimar,Ein lebendiges Beispiel bikultureller Beziehungen ist die Ausstellung Sand-Stein-Kirche von Enrico Scotta im Schloß Belvedere bei Weimar. (1995, September 15). Thüringische Landeszeitung.Enrico setzt auf Sand – für die Frauenkirche. (1995, July 27). Stadt-Anzeiger, Weimar. Celle,Kuhlenkampff, I. (1996, August 26). Eine lange Geschichte und ihre Zukunft. Enrico Scottas Kunstprojekt "Sand-Stein-Kirche" in der Congress Union Celle. Cellesche Zeitung, p. 7.Cellesche Zeitung (Schweiger & Pick Verlag Pfingsten GmbH & Co. KG) Scottas Sand-Stein-Kirche Celle, 20.08.1996, p. 8.Ausstellung Frauenkirche "Sand-Stein-Kirche". (1996), Das Veranstaltungsmagazin der Congress Union Celle RONDO, September/November, pp. 28, 29. Leipzig,Ausstellung Leipziger Messe in der Glashalle "Denkmal '96", vom 30.10. - 02.11.1996. BerlinAusstellung im Deutschen Architektur Zentrum (DAZ).Berlin, 1997. and Osnabrück.In den Sand gezeichnet. Enrico Scotta zeigt seine Ansichten der Frauenkirche. (1995, December 7). Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. It examines the evolution of an iconic architectural monument throughout its creation from sand to stone to sandstone, and the cycle of construction, destruction and reconstruction, using canvases to highlight the Frauenkirche as materially, historically and culturally connected to other heritage sites."Sand – Stein – Kirche" Enrico Scotta. (1996). Ausstellungen im Sächsischen Landtag, January – December 1996, pp. 4, 5.
Scotta's work has often promoted cross-cultural dialogue. Ludwig Güttler, curator of the Frauenkirche foundation, said that "Scotta's travelling exhibition eloquently promotes the Frauenkirche's cultural value and announces its current reconstruction to the world."Güttler, L. (1996). A few words of welcome. In Jaegersberg, G. (ed.). Kunst und Umwelt. Kunstprojekt Sand-Stein- Kirche von Enrico Scotta – Schaffensphase September 1993 bis Januar 1996. Dresden: Druckhaus Dresden GmbH, p, 7. (Registered on the global WorldCat library catalogue system).
Scotta and his work have been the focus of various bi-cultural Italian events organised by the Società Dante Alighieri in cities such as WeimarVisonäres Projekt Enrico Scottas. Schau "Sand-Stein-Kirche".(September 6, 1995). Deutsch-Italienische Kulturbörse (VDIG). Unter der Schirmherrschaft des Botschafters der Republik Italien in Deutschland.Sand – Stein - Kirche. Benefizaktion zur Unterstützung des Wiederaufbaus der Dresdner Frauenkirche. (1995). Nuova Gazzetta di Weimar Mitteilungen der DIGIT – Società Dante Alighieri, Comitato di Weimar Weimar, (7 July), pp. 3, 6.Pinkert, W. (1995). Ein Italiener in Deutschland – Enrico Scottas Projekt Sand-Stein-Kirche. Eccetera Kulturmagazin für Deutsch-Italienische Gesellschaften, 3(3). Rinkerode: Basal Verlag, pp. 34, 44, 45. Mackrodt, G. (1995). IV. Deutsch-Italienische Kulturbörse und italienische Kulturtage, ausgerichtet von der DIGIT e.V. Weimar Kultur Journal, 9 (September), p. 35. and Potsdam. He was also Beatrix of the Netherlands's guest of honour in Groningen during Italian Month in 1984.Ricchieri, S. (1984). Marzo mese italiano. Enrico Scotta. Strada. Periodico di attualità ed informazione per gli italiani residenti in Olanda, 4, p. 11–12.Thijn, C.J.P. (1984) Enrico Scotta, Martinikerk. Katalogus. Maart Italiaanse Maand, pp. 2, 3.Italienische Kulturwochen in Groningen. Enrico Scotta stellt aus. (1984, March 22). Ruhr Nachrichten, p. Bo 2.
Charitable work