OUT OF MY CONTROL
OUT OF MY CONTROL Solo show at Underdogs Gallery, Lisbon – December 2025 https://youtube.com/shorts/KWMsiqasaxE?feature=share Water is impossible to control. No matter how hard we try to channel it, dam it, or restrain it, it will find a way to flow. Life, as we know, is no different.There is no plan clear enough, to keep it from unfolding its own way. Some call it chaos. Others, trusting the process. It is by using watercolor that AkaCorleone chose to let go. Out of My Control is an exercise in freedom, in which the artist challenges himself to work with a technique that is, by nature, a physical manifestation of the lack of control. Guided by paper as a visual thread, diluted acrylic paints, and a restrained color palette, he created dozens of works exploring different geometries, textures, saturations, gestures, shapes, and brushstrokes. As he trained his hand, he learned and unlearned. https://youtube.com/shorts/anMSJqnOgEk?feature=share The starting point was something deeply personal, small yet immense: the experience of fatherhood. With it, life began to somersault in unexpected ways. Out of My Control unfolds as an extremely biographical visual diary of the joys and challenges of daily life, like finding pleasure in a stolen ten minutes to read a book. Throughout his career, AKACORLEONE has been known for meticulously planning his techniques, colors, and titles before even beginning a work. Here, he does the opposite. Instead of relying on external production, he turns to manual, hands-on, and craft-based gestures developed in his own studio — an exercise in embracing the domestic and the intimately familiar. This is AKACORLEONE’s fifth solo exhibition at Underdogs, following his first in 2014, when the gallery itself had just opened. Eleven years later, he returns to watercolor and painting on paper — the same mediums that marked his debut — now revisited with the maturity of an artist who, after years of disruptive large-scale projects, rediscovers the joy of play. Guided less by intention and more by intuition, by touching, experimenting, and creating freely, just as his son does. In the water’s flow and the child’s gesture, he finds freedom in letting go.
DUALITY OF PERCEPTION
DUALITY OF PERCEPTION Solo show FREVO NYC, New York City, USA – September 2024 The Temple of Light welcomes you to “DUALITY OF PERCEPTION” an exhibition that explores the fascinating interplay between opposites, revealing the profound beauty and complexity that arises from their interaction. In every corner of our world, duality manifests itself, shaping our experiences and perceptions in profound ways. LIGHT AND DARKNESS The dichotomy between light and darkness is one of the most fundamental and evocative contrasts in human experience. Light illuminates, bringing clarity, warmth, and life. It symbolizes knowledge, hope, and purity. Darkness, in contrast, is often associated with mystery, the unknown, and introspection. It evokes a sense of depth, rest, and the infinite. Yet, it is within the interplay of light and darkness that we find the most compelling beauty—the soft glow of twilight, the dramatic shadows of a sunny day, the serenity of a moonlit night. This dynamic contrast invites us to appreciate both the brilliance of Light and the tranquility of darkness, understanding that each defines and enhances the other. DAY AND NIGHT The cycle of day and night encapsulates the rhythm of life itself. Day, with its bright and bustling energy, represents activity, progress, and the ceaseless march of time. It is a period of creation, growth, and external focus. Night, on the other hand, brings stillness, rest, and a retreat into the inner world. It is a time for reflection, dreams, and the subconscious. The transition from day to night and back again is a reminder of the natural cycles that govern our lives, emphasizing balance and the necessity of both action and repose This perpetual dance between day and night creates a harmonious balance that sustains life and fosters a deeper understanding of our own rhythms. THE ATTRACTION OF OPPOSITES Opposites attract, not only in the physical world but also in the realm of ideas and emotions. This attraction is a powerful force that drives creativity, growth and change. In art, literature, and philosophy, the tension between opposing forces often leads to new insights and deeper understanding. The interaction between opposites such as love and hate, joy and sorrow, chaos and order reveals the complexity of the human experience It is through the reconciliation of these dualities that we find meaning, purpose, and a more nuanced appreciation of the world around us.
PAYSAGE SAUVAGE
PAYSAGE SAUVAGE Artistic Residency and Solo show in collaboration with Mosaic Factory, Tanger, Morocco Mosaic Factory Showroom, Lisbon, Portugal – November 2023 From the geometric shapes, the balance between the figurative and the abstract, and the creative DNA that characterizes AKACORLEONE so well, comes the latest project: Paysage Sauvage, created in partnership with MOSAIC FACTORY. This collaboration translates into the signing of a new collection of mosaics designed by the artist, whose designs will be included in the catalog of the international tile company MOSAIC FACTORY. It also involves the creation of 5 new large-scale sculptures by the artist and produced by the Moroccan company, marking the company’s first foray into the production of original works of art. This is a concept that comes from the crossroads between real imagination, experimental design and geometry, resulting in a mixed journey between the universe and identity of the Portuguese artist and the landscapes of Tangier. In this colorful journey, the Paysage Sauvage collection was born, which translates the desire to create original works in different materials (granite, marble, cement, among others) multiplied in the potential of a mathematical scenario where the patterns convey various possible paths in an illustrative way. Between functionality and originality, between the balance of mineral textures and plastic color blocks, there’s also a contrast between the saturation and the physicality of the materials, where each new combination represents the possibility of a path and a new scenario, sometimes real, sometimes drawn by imagination. By joining this project, AKACORLEONE became the first Portuguese artist to collaborate with the Moroccan brand, resulting in the creation of five original sculptural pieces that eventually unfolded into seven tiles. This highly detailed collaboration took a total of one year to develop and aimed to inspire the Portuguese artist by working with a multiplicity of materials. “I started by visiting the MOSAIC FACTORY showroom in Lisbon and understanding the techniques they use”, explains AKACORLEONE. “I sought to draw maximum inspiration from the raw materials the company used, and even from the colors. It was a blend of what was available in the catalog and my own identity. In the end, I ended up choosing and developing original pieces, inspired by my visual universe.” AKACOLEONE’s first step in this process was to discover the range of available options and find a way to explore the equivalences, stepping out of its comfort zone and embracing the challenge while conceptualizing something new – a characteristic he always looks for in every collaboration it undertakes. At the culmination of this creative process, the artist did an artistic residency in Tangier at the MOSAIC FACTORY workshops, where he was able to learn directly from the master craftsmen and observe their production methods.
ILLUSION OF CLAY
ILLUSION OF CLAY Solo show at Hotel Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon, Portugal РOctober 2023 In Illusion of Clay, AKACORLEONE tells a story where various elements come together, bringing out the narrative of his own relationship with new materiality and revealing his latest artistic focus: Portuguese ceramics and tiles.This artistic foray dates back to 2022, more specifically to Geneva, Switzerland, where the artist made his debut with an experimental exhibition at the Kolly Gallery exclusively dedicated to this m̩tier, which allowed him to push the boundaries of tile art within Contemporary Art. With a personal and experimental project, the artist took advantage of his inexperience with tiles and turned it into a working tool, drawing inspiration from improvisation, trial and error, and technical unpredictability, sparking slip-ups and making the most of an uncompromising approach while achieving unexpected results. In May 2023, the artist joined a pottery residency in Viana do Alentejo under the teachings of the masters of Olaria Feleciano Agostinho and Olaria Mira Agostinho. Here, he was able to explore this way of working again with a similar technique and the same experimental aim and disruptive spirit, which definitely ensured the development of a new artistic language in the creative branch of his expressive armoury.Following the invitation to show at the Tivoli Avenida da Liberdade, there finally came the opportunity to redesign this creative journey: bringing together the results of the experiences of his past exhibitions with the intervention on the art of pottery and a last and final artistic residency at Tivoli Avenida Liberdade in July 2023.
SELF REFLECTION
SELF REFLECTION Temporary immersive installation for Urban (R)Evolution collective show curated by Pauline Foessel and Pedro AlonzoCordoaria Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal – June 2023 AKACORLEONE is known for his work in which colourful figurative and geometric forms are layered. Playfully evoking contemporary themes, the artist demands the viewer’s participation and engagement. He enjoys telling his own story as well as our personal or societal stories. In this installation, AKACORLEONE questions and surprises us. For the first time, he allows us to explore abstraction by simply letting each individuas story unfold without a figurative path to follow. The artist offers us a journey of introspection, an adventure into the self, where he invites us to reflect and meditate. He asks us to suspend time in the labyrinth of the mind. We are literally confronted with the transparency of the material used, the same transparency we should have towards ourselves. In an almost spiritual way, AKACORLEONE offers us a beautiful lesson about life: access to the light means healing by feeling the colours of life and finding sincere inner peace. This installation becomes an immersive experience also thanks to the sound design by the amazing Alberto Vieira, who created an unique sound design translating reviews from self help books into sound.
TEMPLE OF LIGHT – INSTALLATION
TEMPLE OF LIGHT – INSTALLATION Led installation in Mercado de Santa Clara, Lisbon, Portugal – 2022 Temple of Light is an ongoing project through which Portuguese visual artist AkaCorleone has been developing a contemporary take on the concept of cult and religion. Undergoing different stages and incorporating different forms, from large-scale interventions to exhibitions, Temple of Light reincarnated in a new space – Mercado de Santa Clara – taking the shape of a light installation that opens a new portal of introspection and enlightenment followed by the musical performance Sounds of Enlightenment from the solo show project, created and performed by Monster Jinx.
FAUX PAS
FAUX PAS Solo show at Kolly Gallery, Geneve, Switzerland – April 2022 “Faux Pas is an exhibition dedicated to the traditional craftsmanship of tiles in Portugal, originally called Azulejos. Therefore, the artist decided to dare something completely new and break through his artistic comfort zone. The unique artworks created in this exhibition respect the tradition and legacy of tile-making, but pushing with a contemporary, uncompromising and somehow innocent approach to the material and the technique. Essentially Faux Pas, as the title of the exhibition suggests, was created through the desire to leave the comfort zone in search for a new technique that would encourage experimentation through trial and error. Therefore, the process of that artistic learning experience is the main focus of the creations. The physical outcomes – the artworks – are the evidence related to the artist’s journey, where error was not only welcome but also provoked and accepted in peace. On first sight the tile artworks appear independent in their aesthetics, but looking closer they reveal a certain association to AKACORLEONE’s holistic oeuvre regarding composition, style, visual language and choice of colour. The works in the Faux Pas exhibition are complemented by comics as well as vintage advertising elements and shift from tile to tile between figuration, superposition and abstraction. In contrast to his usual working practice, he consciously chooses a manual, artisanal and somehow intuitive approach AKACORLEONE is known for his dexterity and versatility in the usage of colours and materials. Through the artworks with tiles he expands his oeuvre with another medium, connecting and combining traditional crafts and contemporary art, developing eye-catching compositions.” Text by TANIA DI BRITA (exhibition curator)
VOYAGE
VOYAGE PRENDRE LA TANGENCE, Collective show at MAIF Social Club, Paris, France – February 2022 VITRAL SEIRES / Temporary Installation Inspired by ancient stained glass windows in sacred places, this Portal reflects two dystopic visions of the future, one where physical traveling will be inter-planetary, a not so dystopic idea, considering the super rich already travel to space for their amusement while our planet deteriorates by the day. On the other side, imagining that for many the only way to travel will be through a virtual experience (like we all did somehow during the pandemic) looking inward, searching for an interior experience, mental, spiritual, of self discovery. Curated by Jeanne Mercier Produced by @my_artistik_bazaar Exhibition design by @studioidae for @maifsocialclub
5 ELEMENTS
5 ELEMENTS VITRAL SERIES / Temporary installation / Grenoble Ecole de Management , Grenoble, France – September 2021 I was invited by Grenoble Ecole de Management to create a site specific installation at their school in France and i had a pleasure to see the atmosphere of the space change with color and light during this process. 5 Elements represent the core values of the Grenoble Ecole de Management, illustrated on this vitral inspired installation. Photography / videography © Jérôme Mauchamp
TEMPLE OF LIGHT
TEMPLE OF LIGHT Solo show at Underdogs Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal – June 2021 In search of answers, in his new exhibition Pedro Campiche AkaCorleone presents us with the opportunity to witness and participate in the launch of a new cult. An ascent made in stages, fluctuating between physical and digital, obscurantism and light. He invites us to explore, under its idealistic and seductive appearance, the bitter truth of the religion of which he is the initiator. The first stage is in the dark, the abyss: throughout our lives, human beings are severely put to the test, spirits in permanent struggle, first with the self, then with the other. The pandemic the world has experienced this past year has been decisive in the realization of this project by the artist. The confinement, the disruptions in the sense of time, the information and misinformation, especially coming from social networks, have again placed the notion of self and interaction with the other at the forefront. The next stage takes us towards light and idealism: in his exhibition, the artist decides to visually take on positive language specific to social networks. Ambiguous messages, which seem to help, and indeed do help, but ultimately reveal themselves as double-edged: “Everything is going to be alright”. This self-persuasion, this strength everyone has inside, is the intrinsic answer to find the strength to overcome hardships. Materialized in the exhibition, the light reveals the artworks, plays with our points of view, and clearly projects optimistic messages. And then comes the last stage: our participation in the creation of the Temple but, above all, the revelation. The cult is materialised in the future construction of the Temple of Light, an integral part of the believer’s ascent. The visitor is invited to enter its virtual version, yet to Find the ultimate answer, to be touched by the eternal light and not fall back into the initial most terrible darkness, there is one and only answer: “We accept cryptocurrency”. To your fine conclusion. https://akacorleone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TEMPLEOFLIGHT10.mp4 https://akacorleone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TEMPLEOFLIGHT-BOOKVIDEO.mp4