Asti’s Components

Atelier Viola opens its doors to the city of Asti, welcoming the people of Asti and all those fascinated by its traditions and identity.
Through his paintings, Paolo Viola revisits some of the most important events that, year after year, bring the city to life and tell its story.
From the Palio di Asti, Italy’s oldest horse race, to the Festival delle Sagre, which for an entire weekend transforms one of the city’s squares into the largest gastronomic village in Piedmont; from the Douja d’Or, a prestigious event celebrating excellence in winemaking, to the Fiera Carolingia, the large and colourful market dating back to the time of Charlemagne; and finally, the Bagna Cauda Day, a celebration of one of the iconic dishes of culinary tradition of Piedmont.
The exhibition thus becomes a visual narrative of Asti and its most representative events: a journey through colours, people, traditions, and shared moments that, over time, have helped shape the identity of the city.
What makes Paolo Viola’s style immediately recognisable is his ability to go beyond the canvas. His works transcend the boundaries of the painted surface and extend into space, creating a strong sense of three-dimensionality and giving rise to genuine scenographic illusions. Painting thus becomes both matter and environment, drawing the viewer into a dimension that seems to extend beyond the artwork itself.