Getulio Alviani
Encyclopedia
Getulio Alviani is an Italian
painter
born in Udine
. He is considered to be an important International Optical - Kinetic artist.
His first artistic works were the "wires", inspired by aerial electric wires, still but potent with energy. Then he was fascinated by some polished alumnium surfaces found in a factory in which he was working: after further polishing and abrasion he created his landmark "Superfici a testura vibratile" (vibrating texture surfaces) that gave him international acclaim. Alviani's alumnium surfaces saw him invited to the Zagreb exhibition "Nove Tendencije", together with other artists following a similar paths: exploring the opportunities of a dynamic art which interacts with the beholder. He started exchanging ideas with artists like Gerhard Richter
, Alberto Biasi, Julio Le Parc
, Francois Morellet
and Enrico Castellani, actively participating at the studios of the so-called G.R.A.V. (Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuelle) in Paris.
Moving to Milan, he became friends with Piero Manzoni
and Lucio Fontana
, who was very interested in his works and bought some of his "surfaces". He also worked with other famous artists like Max Bill
and Josef Albers
. In 1964 he was invited to show at the Venice Biennale
, successfully sharing a room with Enrico Castellani
.
In subsequent years Alviani won international acclaim: at Kassel's Documenta he exhibited a big vibrating surface; in [1965] he took part in what was considered to be one of the top exhibitions of the decade: The Responsive Eye at the New York MoMa, together with all the world's most famous artists of Kinetic and Programmed Art. His work was so successful it was purchased by MoMa itself and chosen as the cover image representing the museum's next exhibition: "The New Acquisitions".
Throughout the 1970s he travelled continually, mainly in South America, and accepted, upon request of Jesús Rafael Soto
, the directorship of the Jesús Soto Museum of Modern Art
, Ciudad Bolívar
, Venezuela. He was again an invitee at the Venice Biennale
in 1984, 1986 and 1993. Since 2000 he has been shown in many important exhibitions: Milan Triennale, Graz Kunsthaus, Siena Palazzo delle Papesse, Rome Academie de France, Buenos Aires Biennale, the travelling exhibits "Light, movement and programming", in important German museums, and in the Rome Quadriennale
.
Alviani's works are actively traded in Italian and international modern art auctions, such as the "Italian sales" held in London by Christie's and Sotheby's. Among his works the most appreciated by the market are the "Superfici a testura variabile" where the polished aluminium reflects the light in different hues according to the angle at which they are viewed.
Other works by Alviani are the "chromodynamic surfaces", where primary colour interactions are studied, and his "mirrors" with their illusion of rings created on reflecting metal surfaces.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
born in Udine
Udine
Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical...
. He is considered to be an important International Optical - Kinetic artist.
Life and work
Since childhood Alviani showed talent for design and geometric drawing. He enrolled in the Venice Artistic school, but soon showed little interest in his studies, spending afternoons in Venice's museums in contemplation of classical masterpieces. He also started making little works for local architects, and helped local artists in inking projects such as etchings.His first artistic works were the "wires", inspired by aerial electric wires, still but potent with energy. Then he was fascinated by some polished alumnium surfaces found in a factory in which he was working: after further polishing and abrasion he created his landmark "Superfici a testura vibratile" (vibrating texture surfaces) that gave him international acclaim. Alviani's alumnium surfaces saw him invited to the Zagreb exhibition "Nove Tendencije", together with other artists following a similar paths: exploring the opportunities of a dynamic art which interacts with the beholder. He started exchanging ideas with artists like Gerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist. Richter has simultaneously produced abstract and photorealistic painted works, as well as photographs and glass pieces, thus undermining the concept of the artist’s obligation to maintain a single cohesive style.- Biography :Gerhard Richter was born in...
, Alberto Biasi, Julio Le Parc
Julio Le Parc
Julio le Parc is a modern Latin American kinetic artist born in 1928 and active mainly in Argentina. He is also an Op artist.-External links:**...
, Francois Morellet
François Morellet
François Morellet is a contemporary French painter, engraver, sculptor and light artist. His early work prefigured Minimal art and Conceptual art, and he has played an important role in geometrical abstraction over the past half century.-Career:After a short period of figurative/representational...
and Enrico Castellani, actively participating at the studios of the so-called G.R.A.V. (Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuelle) in Paris.
Moving to Milan, he became friends with Piero Manzoni
Piero Manzoni
Piero Manzoni was an Italian artist best known for his ironic conceptual art. Influenced by the work of Yves Klein, his own work anticipated, and directly influenced, the work of a generation of younger Italian artists brought together by the critic Germano Celant in the first Arte Povera...
and Lucio Fontana
Lucio Fontana
Lucio Fontana was an Italian painter, sculptor and theorist of Argentine birth. He was mostly known as the founder of Spatialism and his ties to Arte Povera.-Early life:...
, who was very interested in his works and bought some of his "surfaces". He also worked with other famous artists like Max Bill
Max Bill
Max Bill was a Swiss architect, artist, painter, typeface designer, industrial designer and graphic designer.Bill was born in Winterthur...
and Josef Albers
Josef Albers
Josef Albers was a German-born American artist and educator whose work, both in Europe and in the United States, formed the basis of some of the most influential and far-reaching art education programs of the 20th century....
. In 1964 he was invited to show at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, successfully sharing a room with Enrico Castellani
Enrico Castellani
Enrico Castellani is Italian artist of the Modern Art era . Castellani is known for his "paintings of light". He studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure in Belgium, then settled in Milan. Castellani collaborated with artists such as Getulio Alviani, Piero Manzoni, and others. He was awarded the...
.
In subsequent years Alviani won international acclaim: at Kassel's Documenta he exhibited a big vibrating surface; in [1965] he took part in what was considered to be one of the top exhibitions of the decade: The Responsive Eye at the New York MoMa, together with all the world's most famous artists of Kinetic and Programmed Art. His work was so successful it was purchased by MoMa itself and chosen as the cover image representing the museum's next exhibition: "The New Acquisitions".
Throughout the 1970s he travelled continually, mainly in South America, and accepted, upon request of Jesús Rafael Soto
Jesús Rafael Soto
Jesús Rafael Soto was a Venezuelan op and kinetic artist, a sculptor and a painter.He was born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. He began his artistic career as a boy painting cinema posters in his native city...
, the directorship of the Jesús Soto Museum of Modern Art
Jesús Soto Museum of Modern Art
The Jesús Soto Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. It is named after the kinetic artist and sculptor Jesús Soto, who was born in Ciudad Bolívar. As well as showcasing a number of Soto's works, the museum includes art by international artists, particularly...
, Ciudad Bolívar
Ciudad Bolívar
Ciudad Bolívar is the capital of Venezuela's southeastern Bolivar State. It was founded with the name Angostura in 1764, renamed in 1846, and, as of 2010, had an estimated population of 350,691....
, Venezuela. He was again an invitee at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
in 1984, 1986 and 1993. Since 2000 he has been shown in many important exhibitions: Milan Triennale, Graz Kunsthaus, Siena Palazzo delle Papesse, Rome Academie de France, Buenos Aires Biennale, the travelling exhibits "Light, movement and programming", in important German museums, and in the Rome Quadriennale
Rome Quadriennale
The Rome Quadriennale is a foundation for the promotion of contemporary Italian art....
.
Alviani's works are actively traded in Italian and international modern art auctions, such as the "Italian sales" held in London by Christie's and Sotheby's. Among his works the most appreciated by the market are the "Superfici a testura variabile" where the polished aluminium reflects the light in different hues according to the angle at which they are viewed.
Other works by Alviani are the "chromodynamic surfaces", where primary colour interactions are studied, and his "mirrors" with their illusion of rings created on reflecting metal surfaces.
Source
- This article draws from the corresponding article in the Italian Wikipedia.