Daniele Nannini, a sculptor who explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, was born in Turin, graduated in literature from Pisa, and lives in Florence.
He now devotes most of his energy to his artistic work, while maintaining continuity with his long-standing publishing career.
He has published books for publishers in Italy and abroad (France, Japan, Greece, Spain, and Switzerland), for which he is the illustrator, often also the author, and in some cases even the series designer, alternating his work in adult publishing with that for children and the games industry.
He has designed and illustrated publications and curated exhibitions for public bodies such as the Municipality of Florence and the Region of Tuscany.
Personal exhibitions
1988 “Animali Compassati” curated by the Province of Pavia.
2003 “Small Treatise on Imaginary Zoology” Meyer Hospital, Florence, curated by Andrea Rauch.
2005 One of his works, “Vitellina di Bue Mischiato” (Mixed Ox Calf), after participating in the Cow Parade, became part of the permanent collection of the Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence.
2009 “Signs of Dreams,” Fornace Pasquinucci, Capraia Fiorentina
2011 “Monkeys, Humans, and Other Animals” curated by the Province of Imola.
2011 “Compasses Zoo” Staedtler Headquarters, Nuremberg.
2013 “The Drawn Book” Empoli Municipal Library.
2013 “Hamlet in the Jungle” site-specific installation, Sensus showcase, Fiesole, Italy, curated by Claudio Cosma.
2013 “Profane Altars,” Spazio Sensus, Florence, curated by Claudio Cosma (group exhibition).
2014 “Animal Installations,” Former Convent of Sant’Orsola, Florence, curated by Goffredo Serrini.
2015 “Animal Portraits,” Maidoff Gallery, Florence, curated by Naomi Muirhead.
2019 “Animals with a Past,” Circolo La Montanina, Fiesole, curated by Piero Forosetti.
2022 “Giardino Zoo Logico,” Florence, curated by Sergio Tossi (group exhibition).
Awards
In 1988, I won the “Andersen Prize” as the best Italian illustrator for my book, Animali Compassati. The series it generated gave rise to the interactive and educational web site, compasses-zoo.net.
In 1992, the children’s jury of the “Rodari Prize” awarded second prize to my book, Gira e Scopri le Strisce.
In recent years—increasingly interested in new expressive techniques and seeking a more adult perspective on his work—he has devoted himself to painting and, above all, sculpture.
In this new activity, he has chosen an eclectic approach that reflects his character: some works allude, others confront facts in their truth and rawness, some are strong and dramatic, others lighter and more ironic.
They are held together by a common approach. Without contradicting his formerly prevalent work as an illustrator and children’s author, he has continued, from a different perspective, the discourse that has always been central to his work and which can be summed up in the analysis of the relationship between humanity and the nature of which we are a part. An attempt to visualize humans in a place no longer one of absolute privilege, of domination. Where humanity no longer feels like the god of the world.
I taught illustration at the SACI-Studio Art Center Italy of Florence from 1986 to 2000, and children’s illustration in a training course of the Regione Toscana in 1992. As an illustrator and author, I hold seminars and workshops in public structures, such as schools and libraries or in private structures such as bookstores. Here you have a mask used in a workshop.
Collective exhibitions
1982 Illustratori 1, Associazione Illustratori, Milano.
1984 Mostra degli illustratori selezionati, Fiera di Bologna.
1984 Children’s Book Illustrators Exhibition Tokio e Nishinomya.
1985 Illustratori 2 Associazione Illustratori, Milano.
1987 Biennale di Illustrazione di Bratislava.
1988 “Indovina chi viene a Siena?” Siena, cura Gualtiero Schiaffino.
1989 Mostra degli illustratori selezionati, Fiera di Bologna.
1989 Children’s Book Illustrators Exhibition Tokio e Nishinomya.
1990 Selected Illustrators Exhibition Prize Catalonia, Barcellona.
1990 “Creatività come lavoro”, Firenze 1990, cura Andrea Rauch.
1999 “Spettri, santi e streghe”, Genova, cura Gualtiero Schiaffino.
2000 “Matite italiane” Fiera del Libro per Ragazzi di Bologna.
2001 “L’una & un quarto”, Genova, cura Gualtiero Schiaffino.
2001 “L’immagine fa testo”, Montevarchi.
2002 “Parole colorate”, Padova, cura di Alfredo Stoppa.
2005 “Cow Parade” Firenze.
2005 “Sirenette di carta e soldatini di inchiostro” Roma, cura di Gualtiero Schiaffino.
2007 “I mille volti di Garibaldi”, Camogli, cura Gualtiero Schiaffino.
2012 “10 anni di mostre per l’enoteca di Siena”, Roma.
2012 “Racconti a colori”, Lucca 2012.
2019 “Leonvolo” Fiesole, cura di Piero Forosetti.
