ART

ENZO CUCCHI AT GALERIE BALICE HERTLING

By Crash redaction

Photo : Exhibition view : Pietra, 2017, Oil and acrylic on resin and shaped canvas / Senza titolo, 2017, Charcoal on Fabriano paper / Senza titolo, 2017, Pencil and charcoal on Fabriano paper / Senza titolo, 2017, Pencil and charcoal on Fabriano paper / La madonna con la campana che suona (detail), 2017, Bronze

After ten years of redefining the dynamics of art and exhibiting in Belleville, the Galerie Balice Hertling has relocated to a new gallery space, rue Saint Martin, in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. The new space, which was baptized « Arts & Metiers » because of its proximity with the eponymous metro station, had been inaugurated with solo shows from Camille Blatrix and Neïl Baloufa.

After exhibiting two protagonists of the young generation of French emerging artists so dear to Daniele Balice and Alexander Hertling, the gallery has decided to shift its focus on to more established artists with a solo show of the legendary Enzo Cucchi which takes place until February 3rd. With this project, Balice Hertling further proves its equal interest for new technologies and digital art, as well as a more traditional way of seeing painting and sculpture. Past and present unite in a space that sees no barriers.

Enzo Cucchi, born in 1949 in Morro d’Alba, Italy, was first a poet before covering canvases with the intricate visuals we know today. His love of poetry will have followed him throughout his career, as seen in numerous artworks accompanied by poetic texts. It is only when the artist set foot in the city of Rome at the end of the 70s that he truly devoted himself to visual arts, evolving in a scene that would be called the Transavanguardia, among fellow artists Sandro Chia and Francesco Clemente, to name a few. Characterized by smoky charcoal-like lines, vibrant colors and disturbing imagery, the work of Cucchi lies between the figurative and the abstract. Always hard to pinpoint, his paintings and sculptures are mind-twisting visuals that play with symbols and always make the viewer question what he sees. Hair is green, eyes are multiplied and hands are burning with blue flames…Cucchi paints the poetry engrained in his mind.

The exhibition is constructed around Cucchi’s most recent works, all presented in the new neon-lighted aseptic space, with drawings hanging from threads, almost floating and a small bronze sculpture of a backwards turned Madonna leaning against the wall, greeting the visitors at the entrance. The largest artwork, »Pietra », a three-dimensional gold painting, is hung on the main wall. As the most abstract piece of the exhibition, the fact that the painting is placed at the beginning may be an indicator that Cucchi might be going in that direction for future creations.

The Enzo Cucchi solo show at Galerie Balice Hertling takes place through February 3rd 2018 at 239, rue Saint Martin, 75003 Paris. More info here.

Written by Alice Butterlin.

Enzo Cucchi exhibition view : Lontana, 2014, Oil on wood / Senza titolo, 2017, Charcoal on Fabriano paper / Senza titolo, 2017, Pencil and charcoal on Fabriano paper / Senza titolo, 2017, Pencil and charcoal on Fabriano paper / Senza titolo, 2017, Charcoal on Fabriano paper, ceramic