LUCIO FONTANA "CONCETTO SPAZIALE" SCREENPRINT, 1965

Lucio Fontana (1899-1968) was an Argentinean-Italian modern artist known for his kinetic explorations of color and space. Fontana was the founder of Spatialism, a movement focused on the spatial qualities of sculpture and painting, with the goal of breaking through the two-dimensionality of the traditional picture plane. He rejected the notion of an artistic substrate being a flat illusion, instead treating it as a physical object that exists in real space. This notion is exemplified well in this screenprint, which has holes punched through its spine. This method was called Buchi (holes) -- and alongside Tagli (slashes), was an intervention that Fontana used across his oeuvre. He titled these works Concetti Spaziale. Rather than functioning as acts of destruction, the precisely arranged holes become gestures of creation, inviting viewers to imagine the limitless dimension that exists beyond the paper itself. The work reflects Fontana's belief that art should engage with the technological and philosophical transformations of the modern era, transcending representation in favour of a direct encounter with space itself. Fontana's works are held in countless public collections worldwide, including the Tate Gallery, London; the National Gallery, Washington, D.C.; the Kunstmuseum, Basel; among others. Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery. "Concetto Spaziale" Italy, 1965 Screenprint with punched holes Signed and numbered in pencil, lower margin From an edition of 95 28"H 20"W (framed) Original period frame Published by Gallerie del Deposito, Genoa, with their blindstamp Reference: Ruhé/Rigo S 4-6 Note: minor rippling along vertical line of holes