Untitled (hug II, II, III, IV)

For Homemade, Teoldi returned to these familiar subjects in a very different way. Using a variety of paper types—from old photograph paper to the encasings of “fette biscottate” (traditional Italian breakfast biscuits)—he created a series of collages depicting figures in a state of embrace or longing. Once completed, he covered them with fresh, homemade concrete—one of the most foundational materials for home construction. Its heavy weight and liquid consistency destroyed the paper constructions while simultaneously assuming their unique imprint. Teoldi’s final four bas-reliefs memorialize instances of human contact, which have become increasingly foreign during the quarantine, and serve as poetic meditations on what builds connection, comfort, and home.