This is Not a Tennis Match
Acrylic on Canvas (original artwork)
Artist: Riccardo Nannini (a.k.a. Cane)
Year: 2023
In This is Not a Tennis Match, Riccardo Nannini conjures a surreal and darkly humorous tableau that challenges the conventions of competition, camaraderie, and absurdity. Painted in vibrant acrylics on canvas, the scene unfolds on a precarious island or outcrop adrift in a sea of water and scattered debris—a fitting stage for the chaotic narrative that unfolds.
Four figures—each a character in their own right—are entangled in what initially appears to be a heated dispute. Three of them brandish tennis racquets, yet the fourth clutches a trophy, seemingly oblivious to the tension, as he attempts to feed a glazed donut to a small crab. The tennis net, stretched taut between them, becomes both a literal and symbolic divide, underscoring the absurdity of the scene and the fractured nature of communication and competition.
Nannini’s meticulous attention to detail and vivid, graphic color palette draw the viewer into this carnival of contradictions. Trash and detritus encircle the players, hinting at environmental neglect and the chaos of modern life. At once playful and unsettling, the piece embodies the artist’s trademark blend of wit and critical commentary, inviting us to question the true nature of games—whether in sport, politics, or human interaction.
This is Not a Tennis Match is a testament to Nannini’s skill at transforming the familiar into the fantastical, challenging us to find meaning—and perhaps laughter—in the absurd theater of our world.