Urso, a British-European citizen, moved from Italy to London to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Multimedia at Birkbeck College, followed by a Master's degree in Video at Middlesex University.
His sculptures and installations have been exhibited in London, Helsinki, Mexico City, and lately at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
My artistic vision is deeply rooted in a commitment to human rights and ecological awareness. In my recent Ekobana Series, I explore the fusion of Nature and eco-technologies through hybrid floral sculptures. Drawing inspiration from Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, this collection blends traditional Jamaican artifacts with Chinese eco-technologies, celebrating diversity through a multicultural lens.
Central to my art is the creation of immersive and sensorial installations that evoke emotional responses. I aim to challenge established beliefs by delving into intangible contradictions. Through my work, I subvert traditional perceptions by inverting statues and symbols, layering sounds and languages, and incorporating surveillance cameras to prompt self-reflection.
My artworks provoke viewers to reconsider their relationship with reality, encouraging them to engage with emotion and perception in new ways. For instance, in A Lump in the Throat (Bloomsbury Festival), the piece Che farò senza Euridice is sung in four languages simultaneously, creating a transformative experience for listeners. As viewers approach the installation, they discover the harmonious yet distinct nature of the multilingual performance, leading to varied reactions and movements within the space.
Collaboration plays a vital role in my approach. Partnering with artists' collectives and organizations focused on human rights (Conflict Textile), ecological concerns (Alter Us), and post-colonial issues (Neo Norte), I strive to create a broader impact. My experience in engaging with diverse communities through workshops and brainstorming sessions has enhanced my ability to create installations that not only reflect my own healing journey but also invite participants to explore their perceptions and emotions.
Through these collaborative and immersive efforts, my work seeks to provoke critical thought, evoke empathy, and inspire profound metamorphosis, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities of the human experience."
18 October - 20 October 2024 - Solo Exhibition - Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London (Bloomsbury Festival 2024)
11 June - 7 September 2024 - Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland
14 October - 22 October 2023 - Solo Exhibition - St Pancras New Church, London (Bloomsbury Festival 2023)
16 October - 23 October 2022 - Solo Exhibition - St George's Bloomsbury, London (Bloomsbury Festival 2022)
5 May 2022 - Bookery Gallerie, London
10 January - 5 February 2022 - Casa Seminario 12, Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México
1 October - 31 October 2021 - Myymälä2, Uudenmaankatu 23 F, Helsinki, Finland
1 July - 31 July 2021 - St John on Bethnal Green, London
13 November 2020, online – Support Bubble a short film produced during the first lockdown - together but ‘not together’ - with the Argentinian artist César Baracca
11 September - 13 September 2020 - Clerkenworks, 40 Bowling Green Lane, Farringdon, London
26 September - 11 November 2019 - Window 3 at Central Saint Martins (CSM), University of the Arts London (UAL)
11 September - 22 October 2019 - Exposed Arts Projects , 4-6 Drayson Mews, Kensington, London
15 June 2019 - 12 July 2019 - The Old Baths, 80 Eastway, London
15 May - 10 June 2019 - Camberwell College of Arts, London
20 July 2021 - Panellists: César Baracca, Nathalie Mei, Ana Luiza Rodriguez, Giuseppe Mario Urso. Moderator: Tere Chad - online
25 February 2021 - Panellists: Paul Hindle, Ludmila Sigismondo, Parizad Nobakhr, Giuseppe Mario Urso. Moderators: Tere Chad & Nathalie Mei - online
11 November 2019 - Panellists: Domenica Landin & Giuseppe Mario Urso. Moderator: Tere Chad - Latin American House - London
2017 - Present - British Museum
6 December 2023 - St Paul’s Girls’ School - Brook Green, London W6 7BS
15 March 2019 - Collective Workshop - Exposed Arts Projects, 4-6 Drayson Mews, Kensington, London
2003 - 2004 Postgraduate Diploma Digital Media, Birkbeck, University of London
1997 - 1998 MA Video, Middlesex University, London
1995 - 1996 Video Production, Morley College, London
1987 - 1991 Economia e Commercio, Università degli Studi di Catania, Italy
R. Richards, Human.Kind, Bloomsbury Festival Catalogue, London, 2024, p 15.
Salterton Arts Review, A Room of One’s Own, London, 2023
R. Richards, Grow, Bloomsbury Festival Catalogue, London, 2023, p 9.
L. Butler & G.M. Urso, Not the End of Us, Alter Us Publication, London, 2022.
R. Richards, Breathe, Bloomsbury Festival Catalogue, London, 2022, p 11.
T. Chad, Neo Norte 3.0 Catalogue, Myymälä2, Helsinki, 2021, pp 3-22-23-37.
G.M. Urso, A short narrative with three works from In My Dreams, a-n blog, London, 2021.
T. Chad, Neo Norte 2.0 Catalogue, Exposed Arts Projects, London, 2019.
Not the End of Us is a publication about the experience of Alter Us collective during the lockdown. It includes reviews by Lesley Butler & Giuseppe Mario Urso, with works by Lorenzo Belenguer, Tere Chad, Nathalie Mei, Teresa Paiva, Christopher Pearson, Ana Luiza Rodriguez, and GM Urso.
Copyright © GM Urso 2022