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PostWar & Contemporary
3419
CARLO VIVARELLI(1919 Zurich 1986)
Diagonal zentripetale Gruppen in 8 (extra-
vertiert). 1968/69.
Acrylic on canvas.
Signed and dated on the reverse: Vivarelli
1968/69.
87 x 87 cm.
Provenance: A gift from the artist to the
present owner; since then privately owned
Switzerland.
Literature: Kappeler, Susanne: Carlo
Vivarelli. Plastik, Malerei, Gebrauchsgrafik.
Zurich 1988, p. 106 (with ill.).
Carlo Vivarelli is often seen as the link
between the founders of the Zurich
Concrete Art movement, such as Max Bill
and Richard Paul Lohse, and the so-called
second generation: in terms of his age he
belongs rather to the first generation, but
his art is more closely associated with the
second generation. Also in formal artistic
terms, this particular position can be
seen: while the first generation of Zurich
Concrete Art always followed a „mathe-
matical or combinatorial ‘set of rules’“
(Kappeler, Susanne: Carlo Vivarelli. Plastik,
Malerei, Gebrauchsgrafik, Zurich 1988, p.
28), the second generation focussed more
on colour variants and used structure as
their framework. Vivarelli combines both
methods on an equal footing in his work,
giving precedence to neither colour nor
form. The aim is „(...) an inquiry into the in-
terdependent effect of colour and colour,
colour pair and colour pair, colour quality
and form. Just as the formal division of the
square and subdivisions of the surface is
underpinned by strict mathematical and
geometric principles, he bases his choices
of colour not on ‘taste’ or ‘beauty’, but on
their mutual relationship. (op cit. p. 32).
The works presented here showmost
effectively the artistic development of this
professional graphic designer. From 1962,
colour and form are the predominant
theme, yet the forms are not strictly geo-
metric, but playful and more diverse. In ad-
dition, the colours and forms do not follow
a mathematical concept. By comparison,
this work (lot 3418) appears to be the freer
than the others. In 1968, the year of the
second work (lot 3419), Vivarelli had alrea-
dy found his mature style. The selection of
forms and colours follow a clear pattern;
the forms are now only strictly geometric,
the different sizes being mathematically
determined, and the colours are pure. Co-
lour and form are closely bound according
to strict principles, and we see demonst-
rated „the interplay and interpenetration
of colour and formal relationships, with
changes according to specific principles“.
(Op. Cit. p. 30)
CHF 12 000 / 18 000
(€ 11 110 / 16 670)