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Michael Venezia: Painting
Cat. Kunstverein Heilbronn
Exhibition catalogue, edited by Matthia Löbke, Kunstverein Heilbronn
texts (German/English) by Matthia Löbke and Michael Venezia, with an interview by Tiffany Bell with the artist
160 p with 50 coloured illustrations
260 x 220 mm, hardcover with five center-folds
ISBN 978-3-86442-164-8
Words wait at painting’s gate
Works by Michael Venezia, born 1935 in Brooklyn, undoubtedly represent some of the most original artistic works of Minimal Art. His »spray paintings« and »bars« duly follow the minimalist dictum of a spatialization of color and extension of the pictorial space. In contrast to Dan Flavin and Donald Judd, however, who chose the opposing path, namely to renounce painting entirely, Venezia devoted himself solely to painting. Inherent in his works are the characteristics of an aesthetic presence, as it can only be developped through painting: texture, paint application and processuality. Michael Venezia, taking minimalism into consideration, performs a particular maneuver: He leads painting toward a condition of being a »specific object«, adding to the history of abstract expressionism a chapter on minimalism. This catalogue endeavors to assign Michael Venezia’s work its rightful place, from its beginnings right up until today. The careful presentation of the works is, therefore, interspersed with various autobiographical materials, as well as an entertaining and very informative interview with Michael Venezia by Tiffany Bell, herself known as an expert interpreter of Agnes Martin and Dan Flavin.
Exhibition:
Kunstverein Heilbronn, 6/2–29/5/2016