Snoeck Verlagsgesellschaft mbH | Köln, 2016
Ed. Matthia Löbke, Kunstverein Heilbronn
With a text by Dr. Matthia Löbke and a conversation between the artist and Tiffany Bell
160 pages (German/English) with 4 centre folds
ISBN 978-3-86442-164-8
EUR 29.80
This book is published on the occasion of the exhibitions «Michael Venezia: Versionen» at Kunstverein Heilbronn and «Michael Venezia: Versions» at Häusler Contemporary Zürich and was realized in cooperation of the galleries Häusler Contemporary and Greta Meert.
Works by Michael Venezia, born 1935 in Brooklyn, undoubtedly represent some of the most original artistic works of Minimal Art. His «spray paintings» and «bars» duly follow the minimalist dictum of a spatialization of color and extension of the pictorial space. In contrast to Dan Flavin and Donald Judd, however, who chose the opposing path, namely to renounce painting entirely, Venezia devoted himself solely to painting. Inherent in his works are the characteristics of an aesthetic presence, as it can only be developped through painting: texture, paint application and processuality. Michael Venezia, taking minimalism into consideration, performs a parti cular maneuver: He leads painting toward a condition of being a «specific object», adding to the history of abstract expressionism a chapter on minimalism.
This catalog endeavors to assign Michael Venezia’s work its rightful place, from its beginnings right up until today. The careful presentation of the works is, therefore, inter spersed with various autobiographical materials, as well as an entertaining and very informative interview with Michael Venezia by Tiffany Bell, herself known as an expert interpreter of Agnes Martin and Dan Flavin.
(From the publishing company's preview)