"artistic genius .. a defining character on the Canadian artist scene.."
Zouch Magazine, 2011

"Adornato steps into early David Lynch territory..a cinematic thriller.."
The Ottawa Xpress,2007

"Marc Adornato est un vidéaste prolifique…avec une touche ludique "
VOIR Magazine, 2005

"Some of the best Canadian media art of the last 20 years"
The Ottawa Xpress,2004


Biography:

Marc Adornato (1977 – 2062)

 

Adornato, a first genereation Italian-Canadian, was born in Montreal. He spent much of his childhood in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia before his family settled in Ottawa, Canada. In 2001 he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from NSCAD University. He has since exhibited across Canada, in venues such as the Canadian War Museum, the National Art Gallery of Canada, the Bank of Canada's Currency Museum, etc. ....
(view exhibition history)

"Adornato is nothing short of impossible to pin down with his art, and I mean this in the most exquisite of complaints possible. "
Zouch Magazine, 2011

In 2002-2009, while suffering from 'future shock', Adornato produced a series entitled "Anarchos Apokalypsis" where he created numerous artworks, video mash-ups, and reckless performances where he burned, shredded and smashed shit to pieces.

Currently, Adornato is in the process of creating a large body of work entitled "Made In Canada" which consists of over 75 artworks, made from mostly antique, found, and reclaimed objects from approximately 1880 to 1980.

On June 8th, 2012, Adornato will have 3 simultaneous solo art exhibits in Ottawa. For more information click the JUNE8 tab in the menu above.

"Adornato has a subtle sense of the paradoxes of transgression, the limits of tolerance, and our place in history. His work simulates and subverts the rules of culture, history and society in a continuous game of detournement, acts of insubordination and symbolic theft. During the last decade, his work has provoked and challenged the limits of contemporary value systems through the use of irony and satire. " - Some artsy-fartsy bullshit i found online.

Adornato lives and works in Ottawa/Gatineau, Canada

To read past stories and interviews of Adornato's endeavors visit the 'Press' section.

Contact Marc Adornato: info@adornato.com

 

 

 

Artist Statement 2012

My latest body of work, "Made In Canada" is a reaction to a rapidly changing North American culture, a reflection of contentious and contemporary social and political issues, and an exploration of the impact of consumerism and our societies preoccupation with material goods. The mixed-media installation consists of more than a dozen artworks and epigrams including 2D and 3D pieces. The materials used include reclaimed and recycled objects such as vintage toys, old advertising, antique media electronics (vacuum tubes, phonographs, radios, telephones, cameras), WW2-era gas masks, fur and antlers. Pieces are mounted on century-old reclaimed wood instead of canvas, and framed in reused ornate frames.

The titles of the artworks are as important as the pieces themselves, and are designed to raise awareness and inspire debate. Despite the aged and historical appearance of the works, the pieces and their titles refer to the most current social and political issues of our time. For example, the controversial development of the Canadian tar sands inspired the piece “Trans-Canadian Pipeline” where a real caribou antler (symbolizing the natural environment) is severed by recycled metals (symbolizing man-made technologies). The piece “Ceci n’est pas une bomme” pays homage to René Magritte’s “Ceci n’est pas une pomme” and features a (fake) Microsoft bomb wired to an Apple computer logo. The piece is made entirely from discarded consumer objects, a testament to the waste produced by modern corporations and the “throw-away” culture and fad-driven consumer market. “Little boxes on the hillside” is a direct reference to a hit 1960s song – a political satire about the middle-class suburban lifestyle. Other works such as “Progress Derailed”, “Endangered Species”, “a Bull(shit) Market”, and “Hunting Dissent” all contribute to the contemporary and dystopian ambience of the collection.

The words “Made In Canada” are rare on today’s consumer goods, and the often cheap and flimsy “MADE IN CHINA” products continue to fill our homes and store shelves. Almost half of my artworks are made from historical objects that were in fact made in Canada. The title of the exhibit further reflects that I am a Canadian artist, making these pieces in Canada. The artworks presented here address many aspects of our evolving culture and invite viewers to reflect on our not-so-distant past while prompting discourse on subjects such as consumerism, sustainability, sociopolitical issues, and the environment.

-View the Made In Canada Gallery

Contact Marc Adornato: info@adornato.com