569 - Agostino Bonalumi (1935, Vimercate – Desio, 2013)

Agostino Bonalumi (1935, Vimercate – Desio, 2013) Grigio Acrylic on stretched canvas (2-panel). (2003). Approx. 180 x 263 x 10 cm. Signed and dated on the reverse of the stretcher on the left canvas. Each piece is labeled on the reverse of the stretcher with hanging instructions. With a certificate of authenticity from the Archivio Agostino Bonalumi, Milan. The work is registered at the Archivio Agostino Bonalumi, Milan, under the number “03-010.” • Two-part canvas relief that combines geometric precision with sweeping, organic dynamism • A sophisticated interplay of light and shadow creates a vibrant three-dimensional form • A significant late work by the internationally acclaimed artist, who was awarded the Italian state prize Premio Presidente della Repubblica in 2002 The large-scale work “Grigio” belongs to a particularly free creative phase in the artist’s career and was first exhibited in 2003 as part of a large-scale wall installation at the Institut Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt. Moving away from the strictly rhythmic, often parallel arrangements of earlier decades, Bonalumi increasingly breaks free from fixed geometric orders. Curved forms, elongated diagonals, and surprising changes in direction now define the composition. The protrusions appear almost like generous, gestural strokes that move across the canvas, lending it an unusual dynamism. The restrained color palette allows the sculptural design to stand out all the more clearly. Light and shadow shape the surface and, depending on the viewer’s vantage point, alter the perception of the forms. This creates a lively interplay of color, form, and space. With “Grigio,” Bonalumi revisits the possibilities of his early painted objects and develops them further with great creative freedom. The work impressively demonstrates how consistently—and yet adaptably—he has pursued his artistic vision over the decades. Exhibition: Agostino Bonalumi. Painting in the Third Dimension, Institut Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt, 2003/2004, color ill. p. 304 ff.; Agostino Bonalumi. L’esperienza spaziale, Galleria Fumagalli, Bergamo, 2004. Provenance: The artist’s studio; Private collection, Milan. Taxation: subject to margin scheme (VAT: Margin Scheme).