BONALUMI Agostino

The surface that becomes space

Agostino Bonalumi, born in Vimercate in 1935, is a key figure in Italian explorations beyond traditional painting. Starting in the late 1950s, he developed his celebrated relief works, artworks in which the canvas rises and stretches thanks to structures placed on the reverse.

Artistic language and research

The surface is no longer merely a place on which to paint: it becomes a body that occupies space. Light and shadow alter the perception of the artwork as the viewpoint changes. L’s apparent simplicity of color makes the relationship between rhythm, relief, and geometry all the more evident.

The artworks and techniques

Bonalumi’s work engages with the research of Lucio Fontana and Enrico Castellani, while maintaining an independent sculptural approach. In addition to the relief works, there are drawings and graphic works. When cataloguing, it is essential not to confuse an original relief with a print reproducing its image: the support, technique, and documentation are decisive.

Reference sources

Bonalumi Archive; Fondazione Prada; catalogues raisonnés and monographic exhibitions.