Josef Albers. Anatomia di «Omaggio al quadrato»

Museo Villa dei Cedri
23 March – 4 August 2019

By means of a mainly unpublished sequence of oil paintings, prints and sketches by Josef Albers (1888-1976), the German artist and colour theorist, the exhibition traces the genesis of an icon of the twentieth century "Homage to the Square". In this series – starting in 1949 and developed for more than a quarter of a century – Albers analyses the interactions of colour in strictly square backgrounds of different sizes and shades, superimposed one over another. Adopting an almost ritualistic approach, the artist in this way explores the modulations of light and colour in more than 2’000 works, revealing them in motives, shapes and processes that are infinite and, at the same time, invariable. The square delimits the field of unlimited creative liberty.

 

The result of an in-depth investigation, this series illustrates the artistic experiences of Albers, developed during his years spent teaching at the Bauhaus in Dessau (1925-1933) and at the Black Mountain College (1933-1949). Contrary to any theoretical instruction, Albers encourages his students to learn from practice alone and to find their artistic and technical solutions for themselves. It represents a new approach, not just to the teaching of art, but also to the vision of artistic practice itself.

 

The exhibition has been realised in collaboration with The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Bethany, Connecticut/USA.

 

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With the support of

 

- Città di Bellinzona

- Repubblica e Cantone Ticino - Fondo Swisslos

 

Media partner

- Corriere del Ticino

Josef Albers, Homage to the Square, 1950, Oil on Masonite, 16 x 16 in. (40.6 x 40.6 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.1.1313, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Homage to the Square, 1950, Oil on Masonite, 16 x 16 in. (40.6 x 40.6 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.1.1313, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Two color studies for Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on cardboard with varnish, 11 1/4 x 4 7/8 in. (28.6 x 12.4 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.38, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich
Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Two color studies for Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on cardboard with varnish, 11 1/4 x 4 7/8 in. (28.6 x 12.4 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.38, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Color study for a Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 13 1/8 x 12 in. (33.5 x 30.6 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.75, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Color study for a Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 13 1/8 x 12 in. (33.5 x 30.6 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.75, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Study for Homage to the Square: Unexpected Turn, ca. 1959, Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 11 1/2 x 11 5/8 in. (29.4 x 29.7 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.298, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Study for Homage to the Square: Unexpected Turn, ca. 1959, Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 11 1/2 x 11 5/8 in. (29.4 x 29.7 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.298, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Two color studies for Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 6 7/8 x 3 3/8 in. (17.6 x 8.6 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.318, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Two color studies for Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 6 7/8 x 3 3/8 in. (17.6 x 8.6 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.318, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, 4 Central Warm Colors Surrounded by 2 Blues, 1947, Oil on blotting paper mounted on wood panel, 10 x 13 1/2 in. (25.4 x 34.3 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.1170, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, 4 Central Warm Colors Surrounded by 2 Blues, 1947, Oil on blotting paper mounted on wood panel, 10 x 13 1/2 in. (25.4 x 34.3 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.1170, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Color study for a Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 11 5/8 x 9 3/8 in. (29.5 x 23.7 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.1407, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Color study for a Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 11 5/8 x 9 3/8 in. (29.5 x 23.7 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.1407, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Sanctuary, 1942, Zinc plate lithograph, Sheet: 19 x 24 in. (48.3 x 61 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.4.104, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Sanctuary, 1942, Zinc plate lithograph, Sheet: 19 x 24 in. (48.3 x 61 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.4.104, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Angular, 1935, Oil on composition board, 16 x 19 3/4 in. (40.6 x 50.2 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 2003.1.1, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Angular, 1935, Oil on composition board, 16 x 19 3/4 in. (40.6 x 50.2 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 2003.1.1, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Homage to the Square, 1950, Oil on Masonite, 16 x 16 in. (40.6 x 40.6 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.1.1313, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Two color studies for Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on cardboard with varnish, 11 1/4 x 4 7/8 in. (28.6 x 12.4 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.38, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich
Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Color study for a Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 13 1/8 x 12 in. (33.5 x 30.6 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.75, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Study for Homage to the Square: Unexpected Turn, ca. 1959, Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 11 1/2 x 11 5/8 in. (29.4 x 29.7 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.298, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Two color studies for Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 6 7/8 x 3 3/8 in. (17.6 x 8.6 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.318, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, 4 Central Warm Colors Surrounded by 2 Blues, 1947, Oil on blotting paper mounted on wood panel, 10 x 13 1/2 in. (25.4 x 34.3 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.1170, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Color study for a Homage to the Square, n.d., Oil and pencil on blotting paper, 11 5/8 x 9 3/8 in. (29.5 x 23.7 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.2.1407, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Sanctuary, 1942, Zinc plate lithograph, Sheet: 19 x 24 in. (48.3 x 61 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 1976.4.104, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art
Josef Albers, Angular, 1935, Oil on composition board, 16 x 19 3/4 in. (40.6 x 50.2 cm), The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, 2003.1.1, © 2019 The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ProLitteris, Zurich, Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art

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