Simultaneous exhibitions at the Marian Goodman Gallery in Paris and London welcome visitors to exhibitions of Giuseppe Penone鈥檚 work centred around a sensuous visual language and gestural sculptures. Entitled 聽Ebbi, Avr貌, Non Ho (J鈥檈us, J鈥檃urai, Je n鈥檃i) and Fui, Sar貌, Non Sono (I was, I will be, I am not)聽the exhibitions depict how the聽artist’s works have a strong affinity with his notions of temporality.
Italian-born Penone is known for his interplay between man, art and nature and was the Italian representative at the 2007 Venice Biennale. The Marian Goodman galleries exhibit works that highlight Penone鈥檚 interest in the metaphysical relationship between his body and the evolving ecosystem.
The Paris gallery showcases a diversity of pieces in which 聽Penone makes the human body鈥檚 relationship to the natural world palpable with the clear and resonant print of his hand. The golden leaf of Spoglia d鈥檕ro (2001) is formed by the artist, leaving the imprints of his palm. In Germinazione (2005), a series of six hanging wall sculptures in acrylic resin, the imprints of the artist鈥檚 hands are preserved in casts of tree trunks and branches.
The London gallery’s show is based upon the ethos of presenting the artist’s interest in the 聽metaphysical relationship of his body to the living ecosystem. Exemplifying this, Trattenere 6, 8, 12 anni di crescita (Continuer脿 a crescere tranne che in quel punto)(2004-2016) is installed in the lower gallery, which presents a bronze cast of the artis’ts hand to the trunk of a tree made in 1968. 聽6 years later, he cast this tree in situ, and again at years 8 and 12, recording the growing symbiosis of his hand andthe tree enveloping it.
The shows open on 9 September and 8 September in Paris and London respectively and both close on 22 October.
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Credits:
1.听Avvolgere la terra (To Enfold the Earth), 2014. Wood, leather, terracotta. Wood: 57 1/2 x 35 1/16 x 28 3/8 in. (146 x 89 x 72 cm)Terracotta: 31 1/8 x 51 9/16 x 23 5/8 in. (79 x 131 x 60 cm). Courtesy of Marian Goodman Gallery.聽
