The metal framework, resembling a sort of scaffolding, that Daniel Buren installed in 2015 for his solo show “Una cosa tira l'altra, lavori in situ e situati, 1965-2015”, yields unexpected perceptions of the ex-cinema theatre space of Galleria Continua, San Gimignano. The artist’s signature contrasting stripes follow the scaffolding, snake-like, vertically delineating the aerial walkways that bring the visitor to different levels and stages, occupying the space in a voluminous but not completely overwhelming way. A dialogue between the structure and the works on show is created as the visitor is brought to interact with 'Planes with Broken Bands of Color (San Gimignano)', the wall drawing designed by Sol LeWitt for the stalls in 2004 and installed in 2009, as well as a series of vantage points that create new perspectives on the other works in show, works by many different artists from approximately 20 years of collaboration with Galleria Continua.
Buren intends to make the context of the work – the space and light – visible to the spectator while stimulating the consciousness of the viewer to create an awareness in as broad a sense as possible. Essential to Buren’s work with scaffolding, which he has done many times throughout his long career, are a series of approaches such as; the ability of the structure to allow the viewer to approach things they may not have been able to before; the freedom the viewer feels to visit what surrounds him or her; that, once mounted, the structure allows the viewer to forget that on which they stand and to look at their surroundings from different points of view; that the structure becomes like a microscope or a telescope allowing us to view things from another place and another perspective and that the structure is able to superimpose itself in relation to its surrounding location without cancelling it out, integrating with it instead.
As the scaffolding structure fills the stalls area, new pathways and possibilities are indeed created and visitors walk where they have never been able to walk before. The place where the art work is situated is therefore redefined, demonstrating the work’s complexity and Daniel Buren’s ideological approach to his art and its ability to create forms of experience. With this, Daniel Buren moves the boundaries of visual art generating new exchanges between art and life.
Lorenzo Fiaschi, co-founder of Galleria Continua, talks about working with Daniel Buren.
La Cabane éclatée transparente II
2000-2019
situated work
Plexiglas, wood, cotton canvas in white and black alternated and vertical stripes of 8,7 cm, white paint
234,9 x 234,9 x 237,5 cm
92,48 x 92,48 x 93,5 in
unique work
La scacchiera arcobaleno ondeggiante
2016
work in situ
Palatino, Roma
35 flags of coloured fabric printed with white vertical stripes 8,7 cm large, metal
unique work
Colore, luce, proiezione, ombra, trasparenza, lavoro situato n°6
2015
situated work
adhesive colored transparent vinyl, white matt adhesive stripes large 8,7 cm on transparent Plexiglas, metallic structure
200 x 200 cm
78,74 x 78,74 in
unique work
Colore, luce, proiezione, ombra, trasparenza, lavoro situato n°4
2015
situated work
adhesive colored transparent vinyl, white matt adhesive stripes large 8,7 cm on transparent Plexiglas, mirror, metallic structure
200 x 200 cm
78,74 x 78,74 in
unique work
De travers et trop grand - bleu
2013
work in situ
blue adhesive vinyl large 8,7 cm on white wall
350 x 350 cm (variable dimensions)
137,8 x 137,8 in (variable dimensions)
unique work
Les couleurs suspendues n°5
2007
situated work
colored transparent adhesive vinyl, translucent white matt adhesive vinyl, Plexiglas, black paint on metallic frame, cable
140 x 412 x 3 cm
55,12 x 162,2 x 1,18 in
unique work
Le Carré reconstruit -D
2007-2018
situated work
red adhesive vinyl large 8,7 cm on white wall, mirror
unique work
Couleurs et Ombres portées N°8
2006
situated work
white matt adhesive vinyl and blue adhesive vinyl on transparent Plexiglas, white paint on metallic structure, cable
200 x 200 cm
78,74 x 78,74 in
unique work
Peinture sur medium – D – Hortensia
October 1991
situated work
hortensia acrylic paint on MDF wood and white adhesive vinyl large 8,7 cm
1 frame (exterior: 200,1 x 200,1 x 1,9 cm) - (interior: 147,9 x 14,.9 x 1,9 cm), 1 frame (exterior: 78,3 x 78,3 x 1,9 cm) - (interior: 26,1 x 26,1 x 1,9 cm)
1 frame (exterior: 78,78 x 78,78 x 0,75 in) - (interior: 58,23 x 58,23 x 0,75 in), 1 frame (exterior: 30,83 x 30,83 x 0,75 in) - (interior: 10,28 x 10,28 x 0,75 in)
unique work
A Frame in a Frame in a Frame, N° 39 Red - Aka
1988
situated work
adhesive vinyl sheets with red and white stripes of 8,7 cm each glued on / under framed glasses
217,5 x 217,5 cm
11 elements: 2 (50 x 50 cm), 3 (50 x 75 cm), 2 (25 x 25), 2 (50 x 25 cm) 2 (25 x 75 cm)
85,63 x 85,63 in
11 elements: 2 (19,69 x 19,69 in), 3 (19,69 x 29,53 in), 2 (9,84 x 9,84 in), 2 (19,69 x 9,84 in) 2 (9,84 x 29,53 in)
unique work
Peinture acrylique blanche sur tissu blanc et rouge / Le Reste
August 1975
situated work
white acrylic painting on fabric in white and red alternated and vertical stripes of 8,7 cm each
172,7 x 141,5 cm
unique work
Une diagonale pour un périmètre
1970-2018
work in situ
green adhesive vinyl large 8,7 cm on white wall
unique work
Una cosa tira l'altra
2015
work in situ
scaffolding, white matt adhesive vinyl large 8,7 cm on green painted wood,
work space dimension
unique work
