2
G astone Biggi (Rome 1925 – Casa Rossa di Tordenaso, Langhirano 2014) is a unique figure in the history of painting from post-World War II to today. He studied in Rome, then took part in the war where he was imprisoned, returned to painting and realism with attention to Daumier and Goya, and finally befriended the Gruppo del Portonaccio with whom he founded the Gruppo ’56. But it is his Cancellate (1957) that offer his most innovative research, followed by detailed informal analysis that continued until 1961. Biggi also came into contact with Dorazio, Scialoja, Turcato, and Perilli though he developed his own style with works he called the Continui-Omaggio a Bach, beginning in 1962; these were based on analyzing and varying black and white in relation to music. Therefore, art is like writing, signs, a new path where Biggi joined with five other artists in 1962 (Frascà, Carrino, Santoro, Uncini, Pace) in the Gruppo I. This collective was presented by Giulio Carlo Argan in 1963, and the investigations of Biggi became a key point in the art debate during the 1960s and 1970s through the writings of some important critics (from Palma Bucarelli to Nello Ponente, from Cesare Vivaldi to Giorgio de Marchis). Biggi continued with his explorations in the cycles Variabili (1970s), Cieli, Campi (1970s–1980s), Ciclo della Follia (1988), Le quattro stagioni (1995–1998), Costellazioni (1989–1994), New York (1990–2006), La guerra e la pace (2005–2006), and Puntocromie (2005–2009). In the meantime, critics took notice once again of Biggi and his research; in fact, Elena Pontiggia, Luciano Caramel, Paolo Fossati, and Arturo Carlo Quintavalle highlighted the artist’s importance along with an attempt to reconstruct his rich, complex career. So, from realism to informal art, then an in-depth dialogue with Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, and finally his encounter with American abstract expressionism, from Kline to Pollock, from Tobey to Cy Twombly: Biggi, therefore, as a propositional bridge between Europe and American culture. In Gastone Biggi’s painting, the key remains his constant dialogue with atonal music, which explains the variations on the theme, the accents of “colour,” the articulated geometric structure in versions re-proposed with different tones and signs. In fact, Biggi listened to Bach and Mozart as well as Berio and Schnberg. This catalogue of works that Biggi himself created, along with Giorgio Kiaris, just like the Oeuvre Katalog by Paul Klee, includes approximately 4,000 paintings out of the 6,000 he had made but in part destroyed, spanning his debut to 2014, joined with a sampling of his temperas and drawings. This catalogue will also provide in chronological order the many cycles that are examined and described; each will have its own specific entry. The publication will also offer a vast selection of writings by some of the most important art critics; also present will be a noteworthy selection of writings by Gastone Biggi whose knowledge of his own research and that of others is well- known. The Fondazione Gastone Biggi has recently been established with the goal of promoting the study and understanding of the Master’s work (www.gastonebiggi.com). Arturo Carlo Quintavalle, a medieval and modern art historian and member correspondent of the Accademia dei Lincei, has also dedicated himself to contemporary art by establishing the collections of the Centro Studi and Archivio della Comunicazione (CSAC) at the Università di Parma. For about thirty years now he has collaborated with the newspaper Corriere della Sera. Gloria Bianchino, a professor of contemporary art at the Università di Parma, has directed for twenty-five years (until 2014) the CSAC. She has published numerous works on the history of fashion, design, illustration. Book specifications Dual-language edition (Italian – English) 2 volumes, 24 x 28 cm, 736 pages 4.400 colour and b/w images hardcover with slipcase, ISBN 978-88-572-3149-5 Special offer with advanced order coupon € 190.00 instead of € 360.00 (shipping costs not included: see enclosed rate) Valid through September 29, 2018 Cedola d’ordine / Advanced order coupon Da compilare in tutte le sue parti e inviare a / Please fill in entirely and send to: Skira editore spa Palazzo Casati Stampa via Torino 61 20123 Milano – Italia oppure e-mail [email protected] Per ulteriori informazioni visitate il sito www.skira.net For more information visit www.skira.net Ordino n. …… copie del volume Biggi. Catalogo ragionato al prezzo speciale di € 190,00 anziché € 360,00 (spese di spedizione escluse). Offerta valida fino al 29 settembre 2018. I’d like to order …… copies of the book Biggi. Catalogue raisonné at the special price of € 190.00 instead of € 360.00 (shipping costs not included). Offer valid through September 29, 2018. Nome / First name Cognome / Last name Indirizzo / Address Città / City CAP / Zip code Stato / Country Tel. e-mail Partita IVA / VAT number oppure / or Codice fiscale / Tax code Firma per accettazione / Signature for acceptance Luogo e data / Place and date Biggi Catalogo ragionato / Catalogue raisonné a cura di / edited by Arturo Carlo Quintavalle, Gloria Bianchino ✂ Gentile Signore/a, Desideriamo informarLa che, ai sensi dell’art. 13, D.lgs. n. 196 del 30 giugno 2003 (“Codice in materia di protezione dei dati personali”): i dati che Lei ci fornirà permetteranno a Skira Editore S.p.A., titolare del trattamento, di informarLa delle nuove iniziative editoriali e ricerche di mercato. Il conferimento dei dati anagrafici e dell’indirizzo è obbliga- torio: senza tali dati non potremmo evadere gli ordini e for- nirLe i servizi indicati. I dati verranno custoditi su supporti informatici e trattati nel pieno rispetto delle misure di sicu- rezza a tutela della sua riservatezza e verranno trattati anche associandoli ad altri database legittimamente utilizzabili. Con il conferimento del numero di telefono e/o dell’indirizzo e-mail (del tutto facoltativi) esprime il Suo consenso all’u- tilizzo degli stessi per le finalità precedentemente indicate. In ogni momento potrà esercitare i suoi diritti (art. 7 d.lgs. 196/2003) tra cui consultare, modificare e cancellare i dati od opporsi al loro utilizzo rivolgendosi a Skira Editore S.p.A., via Torino, 61 Milano. Vi autorizzo al trattamento dei dati per le finalità e con le modalità indicate nell’impegno di riservatezza e dichiaro di essere maggiorenne. o accetto o non accetto Vi autorizzo all’utilizzo dei dati telefonici e dell’indirizzo e-mail per comunicazioni automatizzate. o accetto o non accetto Dear Sir/Madam, We would like to inform you that, as per regulation 13, D.lgs. n. 196 of 30 June 2003 (“Code relating to protection of per- sonal details”): information you supply us with will enable Skira Editore S.p.A., the data controller, to inform you of new publishing initiatives and market research. The conferral of personal data and address is obligatory: with- out this information we cannot deal with the order or provide the designated services. The data will be kept on computer storage media while fully complying with the rules regarding security measures safeguarding privacy and will be processed and shared with other databases for legitimate uses. With the conferral of telephone number and/or email address (entirely optional) you are conveying your consent to the use of the information for the above-mentioned purposes. At any time you can exercise your rights (art. 7 d.lgs. 196/2003) which include consulting, modifying or cancelling the personal data, or objecting to its use by contacting Skira Editore S.p.A., via Torino, 61 Milan. I authorise the processing of personal data for the purposes, and through the means, indicated, with the undertaking of confidentiality, and I declare I am of legal age. o I accept o I do not accept I authorise the use of telephone and email address details for automated communication. o I accept o I do not accept Il bacio di Giuda, 1956 Campo delle verdi sere, particolare, 1987 Biggi nel suo studio, Casa Rossa di Tordenaso, 2009 In copertina / Cover Cielo subaqueo (particolare/detail), 1984 Variabile Romano CU, 1971 Luce di grano, 1989
