Heavy is the head that wears the crown
Medium: C-Type print mounted on dibond with perspex face
Dimensions (framed): 100cm x 100cm
Date: 2022
Price: Please contact the artist
Description: Heavy is the Head That Wears The Crown borrows its title from Shakespeare, a metaphor often used to talk about the burden and difficulties of being a leader. The composition of 48 imaginary X-Rayed Coronation crowns (St Edward's Crown) arranged in a rainbow gradient, is a homage to the legacy of HM Elizabeth II as well as her cultural influence during 70 years of reign, and a celebration of continuity with Charles III.
As with all of Romano’s work, the use of colours and symbols in this piece is aimed at approaching the matter (in this case leadership) with values that
Ernesto Romano is an Italian artist living and working in London. He uses x-rays of his body in his artwork, which he transforms with bold colours and often embellish with gold leaf, glitter, spray paint or Swarovski crystals. All his work is very much colourful and shiny. He often uses symbols like crowns, including crown of thorns-religious symbols and jewels. Those symbols tend to identify a certain status or social position. On the other hand, the x-rays are free from any social connotation, prejudice or stereotype and often gender neutral and ambiguous and the most judgemental free angle from which a person can be looked at. These X-rayed self-portraits convey a message of equality and universal values, of inclusion and diversity. He has exhibited nationally in UK and internationally and his work is collected worldwide.
Residencies / Exhibitions
2019 Maker in Residence at the Bankside Hotel, London with Contemporary Collective Group Exhibitions and Fairs
2022 Queer Frontiers, Curated by Artiq, London
2022 Flux Exhibition, Curated by Lisa Gray, London
2022 Art Save the Queen, curated by Ad Lib Gallery, London
2022 Peche Melange, Tom Cox Gallery, London
2021 The Other Art Fair, London King's Cross
2021 Art in the Age of Now, curated by Ben Moore, Fulham Town Hall, London
2020 The Infinity Rooms Exhibition, London, Degree Art
2019 Affordable Art Fair Battersea, London, with Degree Art
2019 Affordable Art Fair New York, USA, with Degree Art