exhibition view at A arte Studio Invernizzi, Milano, 2011

detail from Empreintes de pinceau N°50 à intervalles de 30cm, 2001

NIELE TORONI at Villa Pisani Bonetti, Vicenza, 2012

Empreintes de pinceaux n°50 répétées, 1998, photo: BERNARD FONTANEL

Empreintes de pinceau N°50 à intervalles de 30cm, 2009

Coups de pinceau, 1966, 198,5 x 195,5 cm
© PHILIPPE MIGEAT – Centre Pompidou

–

–

–

–

–

–

 

Empreinte de tâches, 1975-1984

Installation View at The Renaissance Society, Chicago, 1990

Empreinte de pinceau n° 50 à intervalles de 30 cm, 1973, 105,5×75,4 cm. 

Empreinte de pinceau n° 50 à intervalles de 30 cm, 1994, 79,8 x 51,7 cm

‘L’Album’ Les Journaux, 1991

Exhibition view at CAN, Neuchâtel, 2001

Exhibition posters

–

–

–

–

exhibition views at Villa Arson, Nice, 1987

–

exhibition posters 1978-2001

all images courtesy the artist and their respective galleries

–

The work of Swiss artist NIELE TORONI is composed essentially by an endless number of imprints of paintbrush. The chosen brush is precisely the brush number 50. This number is a general indicator of the brush’s size. Then the imprint is repeated at regular interval of 30 centimeters. Since 1967, TORONI is reproducing exclusively imprints of paintbrush n°50 at regular 30-cm intervals.

Each work, which the artist himself prefers to call ‘Travail/Peinture’ (Work/Painting), is made with this procedure. The only variables are the colors of the imprints and the surface: canvas, paper, oil cloth, glass, walls, doors or floors among others.

‘These are fingerprints although here it is the paintbrush that leaves its shape. What interests me is that I don’t invent a form, it’s not a square, it’s not a circle. Each stain is different’ – NIELE TORONI, interview for Color Chart: Footage of Niele Toroni painting interventions, New York, Museum of Modern Art

The seriality and the conceptual foundation of the works are rooted in the 1960s and 1970s which, through his radical interpretation of painting, continue to question contemporary artistic production.

And good news: NIELE TORONI is one of the recipients of the Meret Oppenheim Prize 2012* which for twelve years has been rewarding contemporary artists aged over 40. Additionally his work is currently on view at the Villa Pisani Bonetti in Bagnolo Lonigo Vicenza until November the 10th.

–

*the award ceremony will take place on Wednesday 7 November 2012 at G27, Grubenstrasse 27, Zurich