Olivier Zappelli



"Olivier Zappelli's works range from the surrealistic to the fancifully photorealistic, in images replete with religious iconography and unwonted, colorful mutations of nature and the organic world. Winged humans, gargoyle-esque beasts, and intensely vivid forms of shells and sea-life are some of the subjects of Zappelli's paintings. These creatures and creations are perhaps relics of an unknown, occult chapter of hallowed history, or perhaps the inhabitants of a chimerical, futuristic world of altered nature and re-defined symbolisms. In spectacularly bright hues and mysterious iconographies, Zappelli presents a world of fantasy and discovery, enchanting scenes depicting the strange and the sacrosanct. Zappelli was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he studied painting and drawing for many years. After the completion of his studies, he traveled extensively throughout Haiti, India and Norway, exploring the art and religion of those diverse parts of the world. He has participated in exhibitions in Switzerland and in Italy. "




"Olivier Zappelli is an accomplished draftsman and painter whose artwork often appears born of a more technologically advanced world. His paintings, such as "centripetal shell", order geometry and color gradients with such precision that the work almost appears digital in origin. But Zappelli's work is honed from the same oil on canvas techniques used by old masters. His precise control over painted form makes his monumental canvases impressive in size and visual impact. Imaginative and ironic subject matter is Zappelli's specialty. "Centripetal Shell" is an interesting transformation of nature's own nautilus shell into a bright cadmium red circular tube shape. In doing so, Zappelli has invented his own set of mathematics and logic for objects. Set on a levitating horizon, Zappelli's fantastic shell is seen only in comparison to the atmosphere and a golden feather. This stark symbolism begins to build an implied language of objects and forms. Olivier Zappelli has travelled and shown his work around the world. "

2 April 1966 -Birth of Olivier Zappelli in Lausanne, Switzerland.
1979 - Study at St-Michael college, latin division.
1984 -Study at the Sion fine arts school, Switzerland.
1985 - 1988 - Study at the Maximilien de Meuron academy, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where he pratices classical drawing, comics and oil painting.
1990 - Stay in Haïti, where he studies woodoo religion and its rituals. Discovery of the naïve and fantastic art of the magic island.
1991 - 1992 - Stay in India, where he becomes sadhu, shivaït monk. Wandering activity of the monk-painter through India, in hindu temples (mythological wallpaintings). Translates into french and illustrates the Ramayana, an hindu epic.
1994 - Stay in Norway, where he starts again oil painting, sinked into oblivion since the fine arts school.
1995 - Stay in India, where he takes leave of the hindu monastic way of life.
1996 - more