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The online dual solo exhibition, "Beyong Eternity" by artists Yan Laichao and Milot, organized by DoBe Italy, the Sino Italian Design Exchange Center, Cross - Cultural Communication and Development Association (CCCDA), D+Art Museum, AWAKE GALLERY, and supported by the Municipality of Florence, the Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Design, Museo Ugo Guidi, LC. CULTURE, launched on June 20th, 2026, at 12:00 (Italian time), This exhibition was curated by curators Massimo Guastella and Feng Xiaorui, with academic support from Professor Ji Shaofeng.

 

 

 

 

Traces Within, Keys to Communion

Can painting truly transcend language and culture to speak directly to the soul? Standing before the works of Yan Laichao and Alfred Milot Mirashi, I have found an unequivocal answer.

Rooted deeply in Eastern philosophy, Yan Laichao explores spiritual expression through abstract painting. Milot , by contrast, weaves memories of the Mediterranean and immigrant experiences into a symbolic artistic universe. Though nurtured by entirely different cultural backgrounds, both artists ponder the same fundamental question across canvases and sculptures: how do we translate ineffable inner feelings into tangible visual reality through form and colour?

Yan Laichao’s creations embody an unconstrained spirit of freedom. On his canvases, lines and colours swirl into powerful vortices, forsaking depictions of external reality to remain faithful to inner visions. Drawing upon the artistic language of Wassily Kandinsky and non-figurative art, while nourished by the Taoist wisdom of Zhuangzi, he infuses contemporary vitality into abstract painting. Works such as Celestial Roaming, Autumn Waters and Void of Light employ dense layers of pigment and vertically or horizontally extended compositions to craft a meditative ambiance. They capture the rhythm of the body and the wandering of the mind, the flow of emotion and the contemplation of the spirit.

Milot adopts his iconic motif of the key to interweave personal memories and collective history. From Shkodër to Brera, from long journeys of migration to public art projects, his paintings and sculptures constantly explore the fluid cultural identity embodied by the Mediterranean spirit. In his hands, the key stands as a promise of access as well as a metaphor for confinement, embodying the subtle tensions between inclusion and exclusion, dialogue and conflict. Pieces including Key of Albania, Key of Wuhan and Key of Inferno use vivid hues and symbolic imagery to invite audiences into profound reflections on coexistence and self-identity.

One artist pursues spiritual freedom through abstract brushwork, while the other probes the boundaries of the world via the symbol of the key. Their encounter is not a mere combination of styles, but a profound resonance between two distinct modes of artistic expression. Within this exhibition space, amid paintings and sculptures, between East and West, and bridging inner sentiment and external reality, a new understanding is quietly taking shape.

 

Curator: Massimo Guastella

June 2026 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transcendence - Yan Laichao

 

 

Fiction

Mixed media

Yan Laichao 

40X40X40cm, 2025

 

 

Mirage

Mixed media

Yan Laichao 

40X40X40cm, 2025

 

 

Gradual desire

Mixed media

Yan Laichao 

40X40X40cm, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yan Laichao

Artist | Curator 

 

Based in Italy and China. Graduated in Oil Painting fromCentral China Normal University and in Marketing FromZhongnan University of Economics and Law (2010). Graduated From Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze(2017). Ph.D.candidate in Literary Theory at Jinan University.

Secretary-General of the Cross-Cultural Communicationand Development Association(CCCDA).

 

Solo Exhibitions

2025 "Refraction" Two-Person Exhibition

Yan Laichao: Dream of Two Dionysus, Guangdong Museum of Art (White SwanPond Gallery), Guangzhou

2023 "Between Sentiments: The Symphony of Rationality and Irrationality" Solo Exhibition, AlpineArt Museum, Shangri-La

2021 "Pompeii Guide" Solo Exhibition, Shunli Space, Guangzhou

 

Domestic Exhibitions

2025 "The 3rd Nanjing Ink Art Biennale", Art Museum of Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing

2025 Participation in "Morden Contemporary" in collaboration with Galerie Louisa Ott(Germany),Guangzhou

2025 "The Unceasing River" Sino-Foreign Contemporary Artists Invitational Exhibition,co-organized by the Italian Embassy in China and the Albanian Embassy in China,Beijing

2024 "Guangzhou Design Week", Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo,Guangzhou

2024 The 2nd Wuhan Biennale, Wuhan Art Museum, Wuhan

2023 The 6th "Fine Art Literature" Exhibition, Hubei Museum of Art, Wuhan"Offside: The Breakthrough and Practice of Young Artists", Yixing Art Museum, Yixing

2023 "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Young Artists Exhibition", Luohu Art Museum, Shenzhen

2022 "Isomorphism", Luohu Art Museum, Shenzhen

2022 "Beijing Contemporary Art Expo", National Agricultural Exhibition Center, Beijing

2022 "Where the Sun and Moon Berth", Alpine Art Museum, Shangri-La

2021 "Beijing Contemporary Art Expo", National Agricultural Exhibition Center, Beijing

2020 "Future Historiology", Nanjing Normal University Art Museum, Nanjing

2018 "Beyond Materiality" Three-Person Exhibition, FEEFAN'S Art Gallery, Beijing

2017 "A Thread of Separation", Beijing ZHUZHONG Art Museum, Beijing

2017 "Silk Road Cloud Costume", Imperial Temple Art Museum, Beijing

 

International Exhibitions

2025 "Symbiosis of Minds" Contemporary Art Exhibition, Bellini Family Museu,Florence, Italy

2025 Participated in Rome Cloud Top Art Fair in collaboration with Chris ContiniGallery (London, UK), Rome, Italy

2025 Participated in Padua Art Fair in collaboration with Dada Gallery (Rome, Italy), Padova, Italy

2025 "PICTA" European Contemporary Art Annual Exhibition, Italy20252025Volcano International Modern Art Exhibition, Naples, Italy

2025 Louvre Art Shopping Art Fair, Paris, France

2024 Miami Art Fair, Miami, USA

2023 ASTEAS Group Art Exhibition, National Archaeological Museum of Sannio Caudino, Italy

2019 "Rome Culture and Art Biennale", Rome, Italy

2018 "ON TOUR...VENEZIA" Thematic Exhibition, Venice, Italy

2018 "WA.RT" Total Art Exhibition, Medici Museum, Italy

2016 "Paratissima" International Art Fair, Turin, Italy

2014 Medici Museum Young Artists Exchange Exhibition, Italy

2013 "First Sight" Chinese Contemporary Artists Group Exhibition, organized by DSU Toscana, Florence, Italy

2013 Outstanding Works Exhibition (Documentary Series), Accademia di Belle Arti diFirenze, Florence, Italy

2013 "The 10th Florence International Biennale of Contemporary Art", Florence, Italy

2013 "START Point 2012-2013" Centennial Painting Exhibition, Bologna, Italy

2013 "Milano Design Week" Thematic Exhibition, Milan, Italy

2013 "First Sight" Contemporary Artists Exhibition, Tuscany, Italy

2013 "650 Years of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze" Thematic Exhibition, Italy

2012 "Sotto la Luna" Thematic Exhibition, Florence, Italy

2012 "FACEART Edition Painting Section" Three Person Exhibition, Florence, Italy

2012 "START Point 2011-2012" Centennial Painting Exhibition, Medici Museum, Italy

 

 

 

 

Revelation - Milot

 

 

The Gate of Culture

Acrylic on canvas

Milot

180X150cm, 2024

 

 

Messenger of civilization

Acrylic on canvas

Milot

90x120cm, 2024

 

 

The key to Wuhan

 Bronze

Milot

33X50X46cm, 2023

 

 

The key to Wuhan2

Acrylic on canvas

Milot

180X150cm, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

Milot

Artist

 

Alfred Mirashi, known professionally as Milot, was born on September 18, 1969, in Lac, Albania. He is an Italian citizen and currently lives and works in Florence, Italy.

He graduated in Painting from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in 1999, where he won a scholarship to the University of Art & Design in Loughborough, England.

From 2016 to 2019, he served as Professor of Sculpture at the University of Art & Design in Jinan, Shandong, China.

In 2019, he was appointed Artistic Director of the DODO Art Museum in Beijing. From November 2019 until October 2022, he was reappointed as a professor at the University of Art & Design in Jinan, Shandong, China.

 

PUBLIC WORKS

2017 Key of Cervinara Permanent work made of Corten steel. Height: 20 meters. Cervinara (AV), Italy.

2017 Red Key Permanent work made of red-painted steel. Lizzanello (LE), Italy.

2022 Key of Montevergine Permanent monumental sculpture made of Corten steel. Height: 50 meters. Currently being installed. Avellino, Italy.

2022 Key of Unity Monumental sculpture to be exhibited in Piazza Municipio, Naples. Made of stainless steel. Height: 20 meters. Naples, Italy.

2024 Albanian Key, Shkodër Permanent work installed at the entrance of the city. Made of Corten steel. Dimensions: 20 × 10 × 10 meters. Funded by the Albanian Government.

2024 Key of Wuhan Permanent work in front of the Wuhan Art Museum. Dimensions: 10 × 8 × 6 meters. Made of Corten steel and commissioned by the Chinese Government for the Wuhan Biennale.

 

AWARDS

2022 Lifetime Achievement Award “Artis Suavitas Civitas 2022” Royal Palace of Naples, Italy.

2017 Honorary Citizenship of Cervinara (AV) Awarded for donating the 20-meter monumental sculpture The Key of Cervinara.

2016 First Prize “Art Roma 2016” Stadium of Domitian Museum, Rome, Italy.

2016 Best Albanian Artist in Italy Award Pistoia, Italy.

2012 International Painting Prize, “2nd Art Water Cube” Exhibition Water Cube Museum, Beijing, China.

2012 Gold Medal in Painting, “Olympic Fine Art London” Barbican Centre Museum, London, United Kingdom.

2012 Napoli Cultural Classic Prize – Best Artist Nola, Italy.

2011 International Prize “Behind Beauty”, IX Edition Founded by Dr. Maria Teresa Baldini. Forte dei Marmi, Italy.

2007 Painting Award “Profilo d’Arte 2007” Competition for Emerging Painters. Federico Motta Editore, Museo della Permanente, Milan, Italy.

1999 Salon 1° – First Prize in Painting Museo della Permanente, Milan. Curated by Laura Cherubini and Giacinto Pietroantonio.

1998 First Prize in Graphics “City of Corsico” Milan, Italy.

1998 First Prize in Painting at Villa Litta Milan, Italy.

1998 Salon 1° – Graphics Award Galleria Il Torchio di Porta Romana. Curated by Francesco Poli. Milan, Italy.

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025 Reflection Solo exhibition curated by Ji Shaofeng and organized by Wang Shaoqiang. Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China.

2023 Fusions of Light Solo exhibition of Milot and Xhixha. Palazzo Pretorio, Certaldo, Italy.

2022 Key of Unity Monumental stainless-steel sculpture, 20 meters high. Piazza Municipio, Naples, Italy.

2020 Key of Montevergine Beginning of the realization of a permanent monumental sculpture approximately 50 meters high. Commissioned by the Province of Avellino under the presidency of Domenico Biancardi. Artistic direction by Michele Stanzione. Mercogliano (AV), Italy.

2019 Between East and West Solo painting exhibition at Spazio Dinamico Arte Gallery. Curated by Nicolo Raugei. Pietrasanta, Lucca, Italy.

2018 A Key for Humanity ARCOS Contemporary Art Museum. Curated by Ferdinando Creta and Nello Valente. Benevento, Italy.

2017 NOSTOS Festival of CervinArte. Curated by Peppino Vaccariello. Cervinara, Avellino, Italy.

2017 ART AND HUMAN RIGHTS Curated by Massimo Guastella. Lizzanello, Lecce, Italy.

2017 KNOW Palazzo Comunale. Curated by Fiametta Galleni. Pietrasanta, Lucca, Italy.

2016 BELIEVE Solo exhibition of paintings and sculptures. Tornabuoni Gallery. Curated by Lucio Trizzino. Florence, Italy.

2012 Passpartout Contemporary Art Gallery La Cortea. Curated by Rosanna Tempestini Frizzi and Carolina Orlandini. Florence, Italy.

2012 Mediterranean Traces Baroque Museum of Noto. Curated by Marco Nereo Rotelli. Noto, Syracuse, Italy.

2005 Mediterranean Corner Arte Invest Gallery. Curated by Francesco Poli. Rome, Italy.

2003 The Venuses of Milot Maschio Angioino Museum. Curated by Francesco Poli and Eduardo Cicelyn. Texts by Enzo Battarra, Massimo Guastella, and Massimo Sgroi. Catalogue published by L’Aperia. Naples, Italy.

2002 Solo Exhibition” Ragno Gallery. Curated by Mara Caredu. Text by Paolo Thea. Catalogue by Stefan. Milan, Italy.

1999 Signs and Color Solo painting exhibition at Spazio Linati Gallery. Curated by Alberto Ghinzani. Milan, Italy.

 

CRITICAL TEXTS

The following critics and art experts have written about Milot:

Francesco Poli, Professor of Art History, Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Milan.

Eduardo Cicelyn, Director, Madre Museum, Naples.

Wu Weishan, Director, National Museum of China.

Alberto Ghinzani, Director, Museo della Permanente, Milan.

Carmelo Strano, Professor of Art History, Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Milan. Sebastian, Contemporary Mexican Sculptor.

Liu Ruowang, Contemporary Chinese Artist.

Lyu Jianfu, Director, Yindi Museum, Beijing.

Zeng Yi, President of Photographic Associations of China.

Paolo Thea, Professor of Art History, Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Milan.

Nino Daniele, Cultural Assessor, City of Naples.

Rosa Russo Iervolino, Mayor of Naples.

Massimo Sgroi, Director, Museum of Modern Art, Caserta.

Francesco Gallo Mazzeo, Professor of Art History, Academy of Fine Arts, Rome.

Mauro Pratesi, Professor, Academy of Fine Arts, Florence.

Mino Cerretti, Professor of Painting, Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Milan.

Fatos Lubonja, Artist and Writer.

Vladimir Llakaj, Professor of Sculpture, Academy of Fine Arts, Tirana.

Oltsen Crispi, Art Critic and Professor, University of Durres.

Anselmo Villata, Art Critic.

Li Lei, Artist and Director, Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai.

Wang Zhang, Director, Museum of Modern Art, Jinan, Shandong.

Ferdinando Creta, Director, ARCOS Contemporary Art Museum, Benevento.

Fernando De Filippi, Director, Brera Academy of Fine Arts.

Nello Valente, Art Historian.

Francesco Creta, Art Critic.

Massimo Guastella, Professor, University of Salento, Lecce.

Maria Grazia Torri, Art Critic.

Dario Orphée Mendolà, Art Critic, Academy of Catania.

Albana Temali, Art Critic.

Doriana Metollari, Journalist, Hermes News.

Stefano Girotti, Deputy Director, Rai Uno Vatican.

Irida Cami, Journalist, Top Channel.

Maria Pirro, Journalist, Il Mattino.

Alberto Custodero, Journalist, La Repubblica.

Daniela Pisco, Journalist.

Visar Zhiti, Writer.

Artur Spanjoli, Writer.

Rosanna Tempestini, Gallery Owner.

Carolina Orlandini, Art Critic.

Gianna Panicola, Art Critic.

Rita Salvadei, Journalist.

Simone Rebola, Journalist, Art Tribune.

Fiammetta Galleni, Gallery Owner.

Massimo Malegni, Mayor of Pietrasanta.

Llesh Kola, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to Rome.

 

《武汉的钥匙》The key to Wuhan

黄铜10公斤 Bronze

米洛特 Milot

33X50X46cm, 2023

 

 

 

《武汉的钥匙2》The key to Wuhan2

布面丙烯 Acrylic on canvas

米洛特 Milot

180X150cm, 2024