In Asti, the retrospective exhibition on the art of Carlo Carosso, the artist of the ‘Bacchi’

The retrospective exhibition on the art of Carlo Carosso (1953–2007), celebrating the work and genius of the ‘Bacchi’ artist as part of the Douja d’Or, is currently taking place in Asti until 20th October.

Over 100 works are on display at Palazzo Mazzetti for the occasion, with some of them coming from the Bava family archive.

In a long season of friendship and collaboration, Carosso’s story intertwined with that of the Bava family, particularly Roberto, in various projects that connected art with wine, cuisine, and conviviality.

‘Via Camagni 3 in Asti,’ recalls Roberto Bava, ‘Carosso’s residence, was a meeting place for passionate discussions, always accompanied by glasses of good Barbera. It was, in every sense, a cultural salon where artists, gallery owners, and wine producers would engage in dialogue on many topics, starting with the great renaissance of Greek culture at that time, enriched by Carosso’s invaluable perspective.’

Born and raised in the hills of Monferrato, Carosso carried with him an unmistakable influence: the impact of Greek culture, a maternal inheritance, which significantly shaped his human and artistic journey.

‘Carosso had a style all his own,’ continues Roberto Bava, ‘which translated into an iconic and recognizable Mediterranean minimalism, rich in powerful references to Greek classicism: from the capital to the owl, from the goddess to Bacchus.’

Bringing together these passions, this imagery, and his network of relationships in the region, he created a unique project, designing, with his signature labels, the most important collection of fine wines from Monferrato and the Langhe, one of the largest and most prestigious in Italy, the ‘Bacchi di Carlo Carosso.’ After being presented at the Centro Navigli in Milan in September 1990, they were exhibited in Asti, in December 1990, at the foyer of Teatro Alfieri and Palazzo Ottolenghi, during the Douja d’Or in 2006; in Acqui Terme, in the autumn of 1991, at the Regional Wine Cellar of Palazzo Robellini; in Siena, at the Italian Wine Cellar, in June 1993, during the 27th edition of the “Wine Week”; and at the Castello di Cortanze (AT), in September 2000. On this last occasion, in addition to the exhibition catalogue ‘DiVINity and Dream,’ with a text by RAI journalist Carlo Cerrato, a volume by Gribaudo publisher was also released, entitled ‘The Bacchi of Asti. The Labels of Carlo Carosso.’

Among the pieces from the Bava collection on display at the exhibition are the label for our Malvasia di Castelnuovo don Bosco and the first label for the Primosecolo Giulio Cocchi, in 1991, a brut dedicated to the centenary of the foundation of the Asti-based sparkling wine and vermouth producer.

Also on display is a horizontal window with three coloured works dedicated to the night-time search for truffles, the ‘Truffle Triptych,’ which was commissioned by the family from the artist and used in November 2020 for a memorable Gala Dinner at the Four Seasons in Istanbul, dedicated to pairing Bava wines with White Truffle dishes. In another part of the exhibition, there is a vertical window with six-colour works dated 1991.