- Aparelho cinecromático
- Chromo-kinetic set
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In 1950 Abraham Palatnik began working on his series of “chromo-kinetic” compositions that earned him the first prize at the São Paulo Biennial of 1951. His Aparelho cinecromático, for example, consists of a system of moving paddles and colored lightbulbs alternating on and off within a box. The slow movements as well as lights and shadows produced by these elements dramatically fill the box’s translucent surface with biomorphic shapes in reds, blues, and greens that appear in constant and endless transformation. By containing the movement inside a defined structure, Palatnik creates an abstract painting that is in constant motion.
The Adolpho Leirner Collection of Brazilian Constructive Art
Related ICAA documents:
Waldemar Cordeiro, "Todos atentos," 1966 (record ID 1090623)
Frederico Morais, "Abraham Palatnik: um pioneiro de arte technnológica," 2000 (record ID 1110793)
Walter Zanini, "Primeiros tempos da arte / tecnhologia no Brasil," 1997 (record ID 1111029)
ProvenanceThe artist; [...]; Adolpho Leirner, São Paulo; sold to MFAH, 2007.
Exhibition History"Magie de (?) lumere," Galerie Denise Rene, Paris.
"Art and Movement," Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
"Bienal Brasil Século XX," Fundação Bienal de São Paulo, April–May, 1994.
"Arte construtiva no Brasil: Coleção Adolpho Leirner," Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo, October–December, 1998; Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, January–March, 1999.
"Mostra do redescobrimento: arte moderna - Brasil 500 anos artes visuais," Fundação Bienal de São Paulo, April–September, 2000.
"Heterotopías: medio siglo sin-lugar: 1918-1968," Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid, December, 2000–February, 2001.
"Pioneiro Palatnik: máquinas de pintar e máquinas de desacelerar," Instituto Itaú Cultural, São Paulo, May–July, 2002.
"Inverted Utopias: The Avant-Garde in Latin America, 1920–1970," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, June 20–September 12, 2004.
"Dimensions of Constructive Art in Brazil: The Adolpho Leirner Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, May 20–September 23, 2007.
"Color into Light: Selections from the MFAH Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, December 13, 2008–March 22, 2009.
"North Looks South: Building the Latin American Art Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, June 7–September 27, 2009.
"Adolpho Leirner Collection of Brazilian Constructive Art," Haus Konstruktiv, Zurich, November 12, 2009–February 21, 2010.
"Cosmic Dialogues," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, May 14–August 23, 2015.
"Kinesthesia: Latin American Kinetic Art, 1954–1969," Palm Springs Art Museum, California, August 25, 2017–January 15, 2018.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Marked on verso above electric outlet: "110 VOLTS ONLY"
Marked on verso: "300 WATTS / TRANSFORMER"
Marked on verso next to appropriate switches: "MOTOR", "LIGHT"
Marked in ink on verso center: "38/56"
Printed labels on verso - see photocopy for detail
1. "International Art Transport / ...PARIS... (torn)"
2. "GALERIE DENISE RENE PARIS / ... / EXPOSITION Magie da (?) lumere"
3. "... (foriegn script) / MUSEE DE TEL AVIV, ISRAEL / Exposition Art et Mouvement..."
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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