Mimmo Totaro, born in Como in 1948, attended the Milan Polytechnic collaborating for many years with architectural firms.
In his studio in Como, in via Pannilani 23, a handicraft building recently renovated according to his design, he carries out activities related to architecture, furniture, graphics and sculpture.
Since 1971, the year of his first personal exhibition at the Galleria Il Salottino in Como presented by the Swiss graphic artist Max Huber, he has participated in group exhibitions both in Italy and abroad. He works in the field of graphics (ink drawings, etchings and serigraphs), painting (panels with nails, threads and ropes) and sculpture (wood, copper, iron, ropes and mirrors).
He intervenes in urban spaces with large structures made with materials related to "Textile Art". The activity dedicated to the exhibition installations is also recognized and appreciated: in 1986 Mimmo Totaro signs the preparation of two personal exhibitions promoted by the Municipality of Como in the Broletto spaces, in April for Pietro Clerici and in September for Giovanni Tavani. Furthermore, since 1991 the artist has coordinated the entire exhibition project of the Miniartextil exhibition, both in Como and in the other locations in Paris, Venice, and in the other cities where the event is hosted. The structure created for mini-textiles is also requested for cultural, trade fair and corporate events, most recently.
Among the major international exhibitions in which he took part:
the Premi Internacional Dibuix Joan Mirò at the Barcelona Foundation since 1993
the 10th Biennale International de la Tapisserie at the Cantonal Museum of Lausanne in Switzerland
the 5th International Triennale of Tapestry in Lodz in Poland
the XI International Drawing Exhibition in Rijeka in Yugoslavia
the 8th International Biennial of Miniature Textiles in Szombathely in Hungary
the IV Triennale Internationale des Mini-textiles in Angers in France.
As a juror, he participated in 2003 in the Valcellina Prize International Textile Art Competition and in 2011 in the VI International Biennial of Contemporary Textile Art in Mexico, in the city of Xalapa.
Among his most significant personal exhibitions and performances are:
in 1973 and 1979, presented by Eli Riva, personal exhibitions at the Galleria La Colonna in Como;
in 1974 at the Galleria dell'Aquilone in Urbino presented by Mario Radice;
in 1982 participation in the event The paths of time NON-STOP D'ARTE at the middle school "Ugo Foscolo" in Como;
in 1983 at the Galleria La Loggia in Carona – Lugano;
in 1990 he took part in Koinè, an exhibition competition for the creation of a Chasuble in Vicenza;
in 2007 at the weaving Mantero GALLERY in Como the exhibition LE MUSE was held with a critical intervention by Luciano Caramel;
in 2012 in Como, in the Church of San Pietro in Atrio, Luciano Caramel curates the exhibition The hidden dimension
Since 1991 he has organized the International Exhibition of Contemporary Textile Art Miniartextil in Como together with Nazzarena Bortolaso with whom he founded "Arte&Arte" in 1994, a cultural association for social promotion, which operates in Como and promotes artistic events both in Italy and abroad .
The Bortolaso-Totaro-Sponga Foundation was born in 2018, with the aim of preserving and promoting the priceless heritage of fiber art, in the more general context of contemporary art.
In his studio in Como, in via Pannilani 23, a handicraft building recently renovated according to his design, he carries out activities related to architecture, furniture, graphics and sculpture.
Since 1971, the year of his first personal exhibition at the Galleria Il Salottino in Como presented by the Swiss graphic artist Max Huber, he has participated in group exhibitions both in Italy and abroad. He works in the field of graphics (ink drawings, etchings and serigraphs), painting (panels with nails, threads and ropes) and sculpture (wood, copper, iron, ropes and mirrors).
He intervenes in urban spaces with large structures made with materials related to "Textile Art". The activity dedicated to the exhibition installations is also recognized and appreciated: in 1986 Mimmo Totaro signs the preparation of two personal exhibitions promoted by the Municipality of Como in the Broletto spaces, in April for Pietro Clerici and in September for Giovanni Tavani. Furthermore, since 1991 the artist has coordinated the entire exhibition project of the Miniartextil exhibition, both in Como and in the other locations in Paris, Venice, and in the other cities where the event is hosted. The structure created for mini-textiles is also requested for cultural, trade fair and corporate events, most recently.
Among the major international exhibitions in which he took part:
the Premi Internacional Dibuix Joan Mirò at the Barcelona Foundation since 1993
the 10th Biennale International de la Tapisserie at the Cantonal Museum of Lausanne in Switzerland
the 5th International Triennale of Tapestry in Lodz in Poland
the XI International Drawing Exhibition in Rijeka in Yugoslavia
the 8th International Biennial of Miniature Textiles in Szombathely in Hungary
the IV Triennale Internationale des Mini-textiles in Angers in France.
As a juror, he participated in 2003 in the Valcellina Prize International Textile Art Competition and in 2011 in the VI International Biennial of Contemporary Textile Art in Mexico, in the city of Xalapa.
Among his most significant personal exhibitions and performances are:
in 1973 and 1979, presented by Eli Riva, personal exhibitions at the Galleria La Colonna in Como;
in 1974 at the Galleria dell'Aquilone in Urbino presented by Mario Radice;
in 1982 participation in the event The paths of time NON-STOP D'ARTE at the middle school "Ugo Foscolo" in Como;
in 1983 at the Galleria La Loggia in Carona – Lugano;
in 1990 he took part in Koinè, an exhibition competition for the creation of a Chasuble in Vicenza;
in 2007 at the weaving Mantero GALLERY in Como the exhibition LE MUSE was held with a critical intervention by Luciano Caramel;
in 2012 in Como, in the Church of San Pietro in Atrio, Luciano Caramel curates the exhibition The hidden dimension
Since 1991 he has organized the International Exhibition of Contemporary Textile Art Miniartextil in Como together with Nazzarena Bortolaso with whom he founded "Arte&Arte" in 1994, a cultural association for social promotion, which operates in Como and promotes artistic events both in Italy and abroad .
The Bortolaso-Totaro-Sponga Foundation was born in 2018, with the aim of preserving and promoting the priceless heritage of fiber art, in the more general context of contemporary art.
