Benno Simma: Reimagining Renaissance Masters Through Digital Abstraction
Bolzano, Italy – Artist Benno Simma is challenging conventional perspectives on art history, transforming iconic Renaissance masterpieces into striking abstract digital paintings. Onc finding himself bored by the familiar imagery of works by artists like Botticelli, Piero della francesca, and Raphael, Simma has embarked on a creative journey of reinterpretation, finding new resonance in the foundational elements of these historical pieces.
From Disinterest to Re-Elaboration
Simma’s shift in outlook was sparked by an exhibition at Palazzo Madama in Turin,showcasing the works of Tintoretto and Emilio Vedova. He was especially captivated by the dialog between the Renaissance master and his contemporary counterpart, noting Vedova’s ability to adapt and reimagine Tintoretto’s style through an informal, energetic approach. This inspired Simma to explore a similar process of “re-elaboration,” as he terms it.
“I tried to look at the classics in a different way,” Simma explains. “I set aside the subject matter and asked myself: what if we reduced everything to a kind of abstract field of color, with brushstrokes reminiscent of abstract expressionism?”
Deconstructing the Masters
Simma’s process involves digitally deconstructing masterpieces such as Sandro botticelli’s “Compianto sul Cristo morto con i santi Girolamo, Paolo e Pietro” (Lamentation over the Dead Christ with Saints Jerome, Paul and Peter), Piero della Francesca’s “Madonna di Senigallia,” and Raphael’s “The School of Athens.” He breaks down the compositions into their chromatic components, creating abstract paintings that retain the emotional atmosphere and underlying structure of the originals.
“Such as, in Botticelli’s deposition, I was struck by the composition’s layout. I then sought to decompose it to identify the chromatic fields and create an abstract painting,painting freely but using the original as a base – its contours,the ductus,the shadows,and the color nuances,” Simma details. He notes that even Renaissance masters employed abstract thinking in their compositions, constrained only by the conventions and expectations of their time.
Digital Medium and the Question of Authenticity
Simma utilizes an iPad and a digital “brush” to create these reinterpretations, working in parallel with his traditional acrylic and oil painting practice. While embracing the possibilities of digital art, he acknowledges a certain discomfort with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.
“Sometimes the digital dimension makes me uneasy,” he admits. “When I see what can be achieved with AI, I wonder if I risk losing the game, if someone is better than me… but then I reconsider. There’s a component I haven’t yet understood that makes the difference.” He suggests that the imperfections inherent in human creation – “being less skilled,” as he puts it – are essential to the artistic process.
A Process of Reappropriation and Study
Simma’s work echoes a long tradition of artists reinterpreting and building upon the work of their predecessors. From Marcel Duchamp’s addition of a mustache to the Mona Lisa to Francis Bacon’s reinterpretations of Velázquez’s “Portrait of Innocent X,” artists have long engaged in a dialogue with the masters.
However, Simma’s approach is characterized by a unique humility and freshness. He describes his process as a “ruminating” one, a way of deeply studying and re-engaging with works he once found uninspiring. “It’s stunning because, with your own medium, you offer an interpretation of an ancient work. It’s a process of reappropriation and study of a cultural asset that I previously didn’t understand or,in some ways,rejected because it seemed too repetitive or I observed it too superficially.”
About Benno Simma
Benno Simma (Brunico) is a renowned artist, designer, musician, and composer.He founded the Academy of Design in Bolzano in 1998 and directed the European Institute of Design in Rome in 2005. His multidisciplinary approach and willingness to challenge artistic conventions continue to drive his innovative work.