COMEL AWARD VANNA MIGLIORIN
JAMES HARRIS
LIMINAL
Solo Exhibition by James Harris
Curated by Dafne Crocella
Spazio COMEL Contemporary Art – Via Neghelli 68, Latina
Opening: Saturday, June 7, at 6:00 PM
The threshold, the moment of transition, the suspended space between two states of matter: this is the essence of Liminal, the solo exhibition by James Harris, opening at Spazio COMEL on Saturday, June 7.
An English-born artist who has long made Italy his home, Harris returns to Latina after being awarded the Audience Prize in the 2024 edition of the COMEL Award. That year’s theme invited artists to explore what lies beneath the surface, and Harris responded with a work on aluminium plate that drew out what is typically hidden, placing it plainly before the viewer. This approach runs throughout his practice: whether working with various types of marble or with aluminium, Harris seeks out the subtle, often overlooked details and brings them to light. He focuses on a specific area of the surface, leaving other portions untouched, in order to establish a deep, tactile dialogue with the material.
As curator Dafne Crocella notes: “It is the recognition of a series of levels, among which the artist selects one in order to know it intimately and reveal it. The remaining layers vanish—not due to lack of importance, but because every act of choice entails a sacrifice.”
This pursuit of clarity and minimalism is thus imbued with a tangible emotional intensity, as if the artist were peering into the most hidden facets of nature to reveal their profound beauty. On view will be low-relief works in aluminium and marble, along with small sculptures and preparatory drawings.
The exhibition will open on Saturday, June 7 at 6:00 PM and will remain on view daily from 5:00 to 8:00 PM through June 22.
