StraightUp@ExtraDry

ExtraDry is an exhibition of video art born from the desire to draw contemporary art out from its usual expositive spaces and onto the walls of Dry Milano.

Following the ExtraDry project curated by Peep-Hole for three editions, from 2013-2016, Case Chiuse arrives at Dry Milano with a new format and presents StraightUp@ExtraDry, an award for young artists.

In step with the ideas of the founders of Dry Milano, StraightUp@ExtraDry wants to give visibility to the creativity emerging from the extremely current research of young artists expressing themselves through video and support their future research. During the first edition, in 2017/2018, the videos of Jacopo Rinaldi (result later winner), Ruben Spini (second in a tie), Paolo Brambilla, Natália Trejbalová and Valentina Furian (second in a tie) were presented. Demonstrating great enthusiasm for all the works of the artists, the jury – composed by Ilaria Bonacossa, director of Artissima, Paolo Zani, founder of the Galleria Zero, and two of Dry’s founding partners, the collectors Bernardo Attolico and Tiziano Vudafieri – assigned the prizes taking into account the globality of the videos shown by each artist, with particular attention to thematic, stylistic and formal research.

The name “Straight Up” is a blend of English slang and bar vocabulary. It implies something honest and fresh that aims for the top, just like the synergy we wish to create between the award, the artists and their future.

Dry Milano is defined by its strong contemporary feel. It offers the very best quality while remaining accessible and informal, making it an ideal location to exhibit video art and create a new kind of synergy between the work and the public. With the launch of StraightUp@ExtraDry, Dry Milano proves once again its commitment to exhibit videos and offers a chance to show contemporary art to a different public.

Case Chiuse, founded by Paola Clerico in 2014, aims to create exhibition projects in non-art spaces. On the occasion of temporary exhibitions, it opens to the public private and non-accessible places, focusing on the artists’ vision. The choice of the name, synonymous with brothel, stands as an ironic provocation to emphasizing the lack of time and intimate understanding, typical of the contemporary art world, offering people the chance to meet art in a special place, far from institutional logic.

The selection committee for the StraightUp@ExtraDry award consists of Simone Bertuzzi and Simone Trabucchi, the Invernomuto duo, and Paola Clerico, creator of Case Chiuse project. The jury consists of Ilaria Bonacossa, director of Artissima, Paolo Zani, founder of Galleria Zero, and two of Dry’s founders and art collectors Bernardo Attolico and Tiziano Vudafieri. Coordination and curatorial assistance by Ginevra D’oria.

The first selected artists are: Giulio Scalisi and Alessandro Di Pietro.

The five selected artists will present at least three videos already produced that will be screened for about two months in the spaces of Dry Milan, both in Via Solferino venue and in Viale Vittorio Veneto. For the second edition, an attendance fee will be given to each participating artist. At the end of the projection cycle, a single prize will be awarded which includes the acquisition of the winning video by the Dry Milan collection.