Studying the space and transforming it from a static into a dynamic force became a fascinating topic for quite a few Italian artists in the '60s, including Paolo Scheggi, currently being celebrated by a recently opened exhibition at the Ronchini Gallery in London.
"Paolo Scheggi, Selected Works from European Collections", organised by Ronchini in collaboration with Galleria d’Arte Niccoli, marks the return of the artist to London after a 40 year gap.
Born in Settignano in 1940, Scheggi studied in Florence and moved to Milan in 1961. A modern intellectual, Scheggi favoured interdisciplinary studies and displayed a strong interest in combining in his practice disciplines such as art, architecture, fashion and theatrical performaces, often tackling in his works issues such as the dichotomy between real and virtual spaces. While in Milan Scheggi started collaborating with fashion designer Germana Marucelli: in the early '60s he provided the painted or printed motifs for her beachwear and evening dresses and also designed her atelier in Corso Venezia 35, opting for a minimalist and neutral environment in which the garments showcased would stand out thanks to the white walls, grey carpets and black furniture surrounding them, while a cube-shaped space for catwalks shows allowed models presenting the new collections to pose like statues.
Art-wise Scheggi admired Lucio Fontana, and, from materic collages, he soon moved onto "Intersuperfici" or "Zone Riflesse" (Intersurfaces/Reflected Areas), that is monochromatic works made of three or more stratified and layered canvases characterised by sinuous elliptical, circular, concave and curved openings or modular elements.
In Milan he also worked with Nizzoli Associates (Mendini, Oliveri, Fronzoni) and Bruno Munari (Sala Experimental Film, Milan Triennale in 1964). In 1966 Scheggi showcased his works at the 33rd International Venice Art Biennale, presenting his "Intersuperfici Curve", four canvases in white, bright red, blue and yellow.
At the end of the '60s he opened his investigation towards the theatre and the performing arts, addressing the traditional space of the stage and the gallery and extending it into the city. More exhibitions followed until his premature death in 1971.
Scheggi's pioneering works suspended between sculpture and painting, revolving around volumes, three-dimensionality and physicality, and playing with the light/shadow dichotomy became particularly inspiring for many contemporary artists and interior designers as well. While Fontana prompted viewers to go beyond the canvas, Scheggi invited them to travel instead within it, in a sort of spatial and temporal continuum.
The iconic works showcased at the Ronchini Gallery with their geometric figures, monochromatic surfaces and dynamic sense of space offer the opportunity to discover an artist forgotten for a long time and will definitely provide many creatives out there with new and exciting inspirations.
"Paolo Scheggi - Selected Works from European Collections", is at the Ronchini Gallery, 22 Dering Street, London W1S 1AN, until 8th February 2014.
Image credits for this post
1. Paolo Scheggi, Uomo Vogue, 1967
Photo Ugo Mulas; Copyright Ugo Mulas Heirs
All rights reserved
Courtesy Archivio Ugo Mulas - Galleria Lia Rumma
2. Paolo Scheggi
Essere, 1963 (PS 0060)
Acrylic on overlapping canvas,
90 x 65 x 5.5 cm,
Private Collection. Courtesy Galleria d'Arte Niccoli.
3. Paolo Scheggi
Intersuperficie curva bianca, 1966 (PS 0059)
Acrylic on overlapping canvases
133 x 133 x 6 cm
Private Collection
4. Paolo Scheggi
Intersuperficie curva dal giallo, 1965 (PS 0302)
Acrylic on overlapping canvases
120 x 80 x 6 cm
Private Collection
5. Paolo Scheggi
Intersuperficie curva, 1968 (PS0519)
Acrylic on overlapping canvases
70.4 x 100.4 x 5.8 cm
Private Collection
6. Paolo Scheggi
Intersuperficie, 1969 (PS0017)
Punched cardboard
92 x 92 x 11 cm
Private Collection
7. Paolo Scheggi
Zone Riflesse, 1963 (PS 0084)
Acrylic on overlapping canvases
121 x 81 x 6 cm
Private Collection
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