Mazzoleni Torino is pleased to present The Golden Age, a solo exhibition by Gianfranco Zappettini, which follows and complements the show of the same title, curated by Martin Holman, that was on display at Mazzoleni London from February to April 2020. Whilst the London show focussed solely on the artist’s most recent body of works, the Turin exhibition will also present a previous bodies of works.
Gianfranco Zappettini is one of the most renowned living Italian abstract painters. In the 1970s, he was amongst the co-founders of “Analytical Painting”, an international movement which spread between Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The term “Analytical Painting” was conceived in 1974 by German art critic and historian Klaus Honnef. Zappettini’s works have been exhibited in major public museums across Europe, such as: Westfälischer Kunstverein, Münster, 1971; Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna, Turin, 1977; Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, 1978; Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome, 1981, as well as at documenta 6, Kassel, 1977.
The title of the show refers to Zappettini’s exploration on the colour gold as a symbol of physical and metaphysical perfection. In this context, the “golden age” refers to a longed-for era of spiritual wealth, which – according to the artist – will follow the current era of decline. Zappettini’s profound research on Taoism, Zen, and Sufism is intrinsic to this body of works. From these traditional doctrines, the artist recognises the role of art as the upholder of superior and ancestral knowledge that will be passed on to a future of newfound harmony between humankind and its surroundings.
The illustrated catalogue The Golden Age published by Skira includes essays by Dr. Martin Holman, British curator and art critic; Prof. Klaus Honnef, German, museum director, art historian and critic; Prof. Paola Valenti, professor of contemporary art history at the University of Genoa.
On the occasion of the exhibition, the Catalogue Raisonné of Gianfranco Zappettini, curated by Marco Meneguzzo and published by Skira, will be presented.
To visit the Online Viewing Room of Gianfranco Zappettini. The Golden Age exhibition click here.