Enrico Castellani
dal 12/10/2011 al 16/12/2011
Segnalato da
12/10/2011
Enrico Castellani
Galerie Tornabuoni Art, Paris
A retrospective devoted to Castellani through some 45 works of art. Known for his monochromatic embossed canvasses, he is a major Italian figure associated with the Zero movement, by rejuvenating the language of image and form, greatly contributed to the development of avant-garde artists in Europe in the 1950s and 1960s.
From 14 October to 17 December 2011, the Tornabuoni Art gallery will show a
masterful retrospective devoted to Enrico Castellani through some 45 works of art.
Known for his monochromatic embossed canvasses, Castellani (born in 1930) is a
major Italian figure associated with the ZERO movement who, by rejuvenating the
language of image and form, greatly contributed to the development of avant-garde
artists in Europe in the 1950s and 1960s.
After distancing himself from the expressiveness of pictorial
portrayal, Enrico Castellani proceeded to produce
monochromatic pieces rendered dynamic by the action of
disturbing elements: nails. Indeed, behind a canvas stretched
over a wood frame, Castellani places nails that raise or lower the
canvas and so create an interplay of light and shadow. The
Italian Experimentation room opens with one of his works in the
new contemporary collections area of the Pompidou Centre
(level 4). In addition to this public recognition, Enrico Castellani
also attracts collectors: his highly sought-after works sometimes
go for as much as one million dollars on the auction block.
Canvas as a living membrane
In 1959 Castellani made his first embossed surface, his first "extra-flexed" monochrome,
which would be followed by multiple variations in the distribution of the various components.
In so doing, he inaugurated his own personal poetics with the technique of "differing
repetition", by carefully choosing the placement
of the recesses and reliefs that give rhythm to
his canvasses. This autumn, the Tornabuoni Art
gallery will present a historical work: a Red
Diptych from 1963.
His original approach is considered
fundamental for the art history of the 20th
century, not only in Italy, but also on the
international scene; In particular, Castellani
influenced Donald Judd, who saw him as the
father of minimalism.
For the occasion of this Castellani exhibition,
which is his first major retrospective in a gallery,
Tornabuoni Art is publishing a very complete
catalogue on the artist with a preface by
Bernard Blistène.
And from 20 to 23 October, Tornabuoni Art will participate in the FIAC with a selection
of crucial artists for the international art market.
About the gallery...
The Tornabuoni Art gallery inaugurated its
space on Avenue Matignon in Paris on 1
October 2009 with an exhibition of Lucio
Fontana, which was met with keen interest,
followed by a retrospective on Alighiero
Boetti in the spring of 2010. More than 4,000
visitors turned out.
Specializing primarily in Italian art from the
second half of the 20th century, the gallery
organizes important retrospectives on major
post-war Italian artists and exhibitions of
groups of fundamental international artists.
Tornabuoni Art thus presents significant
works by the primary authors of the Italian "Novecento": De Chirico, Morandi, Balla,
Severini, and international avant-garde artists of the 20th century: Picasso, Mirò,
Kandinsky, Hartung, Poliakoff, Dubuffet, Lam, Matta, Christo, Warhol, Wesselmann,
Basquiat...
The Paris exhibitions are handled by Michele Casamonti and Gaïa Donzet in collaboration
with Tornabuoni Arte in Florence, which was the first gallery created in 1981 by Roberto
Casamonti in the street that is its namesake. Since then, Tornabuoni Art has opened
galleries in Milan in 1995, Portofino in 2001, Forte Dei Marmi in 2004, and lastly Paris in
2009 to be closer to its clients and optimally meet the expectations of its audience of
international collectors.
Alongside his modern art activities, in 2006 Roberto Casamonti opened an antique gallery
including furniture, paintings, sculptures, and gold pieces from the 14th and 15th centuries,
his other passion: ''l'Arte non ha tempo'' (Art is timeless).
Press Contacts: CommunicationCulture - Sylvia Beder, sylvia@sylviabeder.com / Tel: 01 42 18 09 41, www.sylviabeder.com
Opening day: Thursday 13 October starting at 6pm
Tornabuoni Art
16, avenue Matignon, Paris
Hours: monday to Saturday 10 a.m.- 6.30 p.m
Admission free