Giovanni Meloni (1940–2019) began his artistic journey in Verona, influenced by Pop Art and Arte Povera, before establishing a deep connection with the Scandinavian art scene. He formed a close relationship with Danish sculptor Jørgen H. Sørensen and exhibited in renowned institutions such as the Birch Gallery and the Louisiana Museum. Rejecting the clichés imposed by the art market, his style evolved in the 1970s from the vibrant chromaticism typical of Nordic Expressionism to a more lyrical and figurative approach. This transformation culminated in work residencies in Germany alongside Candida Höfer, where he was drawn to the Neuen Wilden movement. During his time in Verona, he also collaborated with artists such as Anish Kapoor, Arno Vroonen, and others.

Totem (1994–1997)
In the early 1990s, following a trip to the United States during which he discovered the indigenous cultures of the Americas, Meloni developed a growing interest in the primitive art of Central African peoples. From this inspiration emerged the Totem painting cycles (1994–1997), where the irregular forms of masks, ancestors, and shamans became his central subjects.