I have always been fascinated by the infinite potential that metals offer and the opportunity of transforming their original properties and aspect in order to stretch the scope of what can be achieved. 

I avail myself of antique goldsmith techniques that have almost fallen into disuse, such as niello and granulation, personalizing them in order to give my work a distinctive character. I work with precious metals, combining them with other metals such as iron, copper and brass. 

I apply niello to the surface of the metal so that it is completely covered. In this way, the preciousness of the metal disappears leaving way to a dark, rough surface. Through the use of heat, I achieve cracks and clots resulting in surfaces that seem battered and ill-treated, resembling ancient relics. 

My work is based on spontaneity and instinct. I try to transfer everyday emotions into my jewellery in an impulsive way. This method allows me to develop works that are unique and sculptural. I endeavor to use the same sort of approach as I do when painting and often treat the surface of the metal as a canvas. This instinctive approach is counteracted by the precise, geometric forms that I use, whereby everything seems to be brought back into place.

Gigi Mariani, 1957, Modena, Italy.


Education:
2013 Vice Chairman AGC Italy( Association Contemporary jewelry)
2012 Curator with H.Herb - International jewelry Competition “sex, drugs & rock'n roll......vices or lifestyle ?” (Jury G.Corvaja,Barbara Schmidt) | Member of Gesellschaft fur Goldschmiedekunst – Hanau-Germany
2011 Granulation Workshop with G.Corvaja –Alchimia - Florence | Member Klimt02 | Member Crafthaus | Workshop mokume gane with G.Corvaja- Todi italia
2009 Enrolment AGC | Co- founder Artifizio group | Workshop with Graziano Visintin e MariaRosa Franzin 
2001/02 Seminar on diamond grading, Camera di Commercio Modena 
2001 Since 2001 collaboration with the Archaeological Museum –Modena
1985 Opened his own studio in Modena
1983 Apprenticeship by a Goldsmith ‘s laboratory

Awards:
2012 Premi Joid’art- Enjoia’t 2012 Barcelona
2011 Exibition Gioielli in fermento Torre Fornello (PC) | ONOFF Spazio Aperto Award 150° - Padua – Italy 

Collections:
2012 Cominelli Foundation – Salo’ (BS) – Italy

Exhibitions:
2013 Jewellery-power-Warmth-Galerie Slavik (Wien)-Austria / La Frontera - Museo Franz Mayer ,Mexico City-Velvet da Vinci, San Francisco Usa - / JewelinArt “..G.Klimt” Universita’Nobil Collegio – Roma – Italy / Summer Session – Puty Art Gallery – Riga /Cominelli Foundation 2013 Award – Salo’- Italy /Filrouge Paris 2013 – Paris/ Fantastici ! – Putti Art Gallery –Riga (LV)/The Genius of Nature – Aaron Faber Gallery – NYC/
2012 OnOff Padua (ITALY) / Contemporary Vision of the necklace, art of the ear,the art of the ring – Mobilia Gallery – Cambridge – USA | Cominelli Foundation 2012 Award – Salo’ -Italy | Enjoia’t 2012 Awards – Barcelona – Spain / Joya Barcelona- Spain | “ Ring,just ring” Galerie Violaine Ulmer – Toulouse – (France) | Amberif Design Award- Warsaw – Poland | Gioie da condividere per “Sonia” – Rome | Exibition Gioielli in fermento 2012 (PC)
2011 Exibition Gioielli in fermento Torre Fornello (PC) | AGC TI DO Senigallia (AN) | AGC Ring Party Senigallia (AN) | The becoming of things: the dialogue between Artifizio and D.Milanesi Galleria 42 Modena | New Directions Hall (Vicenzaoro Choice) curator Alba Cappellieri | Conceptual Jewellery Putti Art Gallery - Riga (Latvia) | International biennale of art Metalfonas - Vinlius (Lithuania) | Winter Exhibition Alternatives Gallery Rome Italy | White – Putti Art Gallery – Riga – (Latvia) | F-Utili jewelry for EMERGENCY – Third Edition – Florence Italy | Onoff SpazioAperto – Premio Cisotto – Padua - Italy
2010 Living artist - Formigine Castle (MO) | Exhibition Nature and Artificio – Livorno | Exhibition contemporary jewels Archeogioielli - Archaeological Museum in Anzio (Rome) | Contemporary Jewels on Show – Palazzo Baviera Senigallia | Inauguration 105 Art gallery – Rome | F-Utili jewelry for EMERGENCY – Florence -2nd ediction | White jewelry and contemporary sculpture –Bassano del Grappa (Civic Museum) | ONOFF open space 2010 – Padova 
2009 Exhibition AGC – museo del Bijou di Castelmaggiore | Third International exhibition of jewel art – Cassano D’Adda | F-Utili jewelry for EMERGENCY – Florence
2008 Collective painting exhibition, ex church Paradisino in Modena

2012 International Annual of Contemporary jewel art “ Jewel Book 2012/2013 | Anuario Yearbook Contemporary Jewellery 2012/2013 | Catalogue Amberif Design Award
2011 Catalogue F-Utili jewelry Florence | Catalogue International biennale of art Metalfonas - Vinlius (Lithuania)
2010 Catalogue Nature and Artificio 2010 - Livorno | Catalogue Archeogioielli 2010 – Anzio (Roma) | Catalogue contemporary jewelry on show 2010 - Senigallia | Catalouge F-Utili jewelry 2010 -Firenze | Catalouge White –Bassano del grappa (PD) 
2009 Catalogue “agc workshops 09” + curator by G.Babetto | Catalogue Gioiello D’Arte – Cassano D’adda | Catalogue F-Utili jewelry 2009 -Firenze 


Magazines 
2013 L’OFFICIEL nr 45 (Latvia )
2012 Art Aurea nr 3 / Jewelbook 12/13
2011 L’orafo italiano | ART AUREA nr3 | Vogue gioiello nr 116

Putti Art Gallery, Riga (Latvia )
Alternatives Gallery, Rome (Italy)
Galerie Slavik, Vienna  (Austria)
Galerie Orfeo, Luxembourg

info@gigimariani.it  gigimarianimo@virgilio.it  www.gigimariani.it