971 Art Gallery, La Maisonaire, Art of Living Mall, Dubai
Beyond the Visible – Michele Tombolini | October 22, 2026
What lies beyond what we see? What remains hidden beneath the surface of the human body, the natural world, and the symbols that shape our understanding of reality?
With Beyond the Visible, 971 Art Gallery presents a solo exhibition by Venetian artist Michele Tombolini, inviting visitors to look beyond the immediate appearance of an artwork and discover the ideas, emotions, and questions that exist within it.
Born in Venice in 1963, Tombolini has developed a distinctive artistic language in which symbolism, social consciousness, and aesthetic refinement converge. His practice brings together the cultural heritage of his hometown, including the use of Venetian fabrics, and a contemporary visual vocabulary through which he explores the complexities of human existence.
Art has been part of Tombolini’s life since childhood. His first drawing, created in charcoal at the age of six, depicted an angel, a figure that would become a recurring presence throughout his artistic journey. Encouraged by his father, Germano, he gradually developed a practice that evolved from instinctive, spontaneous expression toward a more deliberate and conceptually driven approach. A formative experience in Berlin, where he encountered the city’s powerful mural culture, contributed to this transformation, encouraging him to consider not only what an image represents, but also what it communicates.
This relationship between image and meaning lies at the heart of Tombolini’s work. His symbols are never merely decorative: the X evokes censorship and the suppression of expression; the butterfly embodies hope and transformation; wings suggest freedom and the possibility of transcendence. Angels inhabit this visual universe as recurring presences, introducing a spiritual dimension into works that often address urgent social and environmental concerns.
For Tombolini, an artwork reaches completion when its message becomes clear to the viewer. Yet meaning alone is not enough. Rooted in the artistic sensibility of Venice and the wider Italian tradition, his work maintains a strong commitment to beauty, elegance, and visual harmony. Conceptual depth and aesthetic pleasure are not opposing forces; they are complementary elements through which art can communicate with greater power.
Three Perspectives, One Human Experience
Beyond the Visible brings together three bodies of work, each approaching the relationship between appearance and meaning from a different perspective.
The Voice of the Planet turns toward the environment and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Through three sculptures, Tombolini gives physical form to a reflection on the planet’s vulnerability and the responsibility we share toward it.
Destruction of the Body to Discover the Soul explores the tension between the physical self and the inner dimension of human existence. Three large-scale canvases challenge the idea of the body as a complete and fixed identity, opening a dialogue about vulnerability, transformation, and the search for what lies beneath the surface.
Riflessi dell’Anima, or Reflections of the Soul, examines the many dimensions of human identity through cubes, fragmented forms, and Cubist-inspired perspectives. By dividing and reflecting elements of the body, Tombolini suggests that every individual is composed of multiple facets, experiences, and perceptions. The resulting images become reflections not only of physical form, but also of the complexity of the self.
Together, these series establish a dialogue between the individual, society, and the natural world. They invite us to reconsider the boundaries between the external and the internal, the tangible and the intangible, the visible and the unseen.
A Venetian Sensibility, an International Perspective
For 971 Art Gallery, presenting Michele Tombolini in Dubai is an opportunity to introduce audiences to an artist whose work connects a distinctly Italian sensitivity to themes that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries.
The exhibition brings together a considered selection of works from different stages of Tombolini’s practice, including pieces previously exhibited at the Triennale Milano and the Venice Biennale.
Through Beyond the Visible, 971 Art Gallery invites collectors and visitors to engage with art not simply as an object to be observed, but as an experience to be interpreted. Each work offers an encounter with a personal visual language, leaving space for individual reflection and discovery.
Because what we see is only the beginning. Beyond the visible lies the message, the emotion, and the possibility of seeing the world, and ourselves, with different eyes.
Event Details
- Exhibition: Beyond the Visible – Michele Tombolini
- Opening Date: October 22, 2026
- Venue: La Maisonaire, Art of Living Mall, Dubai, UAE
- Organized by: 971 Art Gallery
About Michele Tombolini
Born in Venice in 1963, Michele Tombolini is an Italian contemporary artist whose practice combines symbolism, social consciousness, and aesthetic refinement. Drawing inspiration from Venetian artistic traditions and contemporary visual culture, he explores themes of human identity, freedom, transformation, and environmental responsibility.
His work employs recurring symbols, including angels, butterflies, wings, and the letter X, to communicate ideas that extend beyond the visible image. His artistic practice encompasses painting and sculpture, combining conceptual depth with a distinctive commitment to beauty and visual harmony.
Tombolini’s works have been presented internationally, including at the Triennale Milano and the Venice Biennale.
About 971 Art Gallery
971 Art Gallery is a contemporary art gallery based in Dubai, UAE, dedicated to presenting outstanding artistic voices from around the world. With a focus on international contemporary art, the gallery aims to foster cultural dialogue, promote emerging and established artists, and position Dubai as a central meeting point for collectors and creators.
Press & Contact Information
- 971 Art Gallery
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Phone: +971 52 519 8046
- Email: info@971artgallery.com
- Instagram: @971artgallery
