The Alfonso Artiaco Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of the solo exhibition by Lawrence Weiner, on Saturday, February 20th, 2016 at 7 pm.

For the fifth time at Alfonso Artiaco Gallery, Lawrence Weiner (Bronx, New York, 1942) intervenes in the gallery space in Piazzetta Nilo with 6 new large format textual installations and 3 new works on paper dedicated to Naples.

Universally recognized as one of the fathers of Conceptual Art, Weiner has been one of the first to conceive the work not as a static object, but as something constantly developing, dematerialized in its physical presence and transformed into pure language.

A radical consistent work that takes its first steps in 1968 when the artist sets out the main principles of their work:

1. The artist may construct the piece.
2. The piece may be fabricated.
3. The piece need not be built.

Each being equal and consistent with the intent of artist, the decision as to condition rests with the receiver upon the occasion of receivership.

As indicated in this famous statement, the material production of the work could be not be made physically by the artist since the final work is just the son of a creative process that has already in itself the whole power of the artwork.

As a silent demiurge, Weiner produces artworks that arise as written and prepositions painted or applied on the walls, words often accompanied by mathematical symbols, which breaking down every semantic convention, enhance the universal value of the work.

The language, the main communication vehicle, becomes for the American artist one instrument for the representation of the world, free from any subjective reference and uniqueness of perception.
Weiner’s work takes shape and meaning when it interacts with its user, who interprets the meaning according to his emotions and in relation to the space where it is located. Also because of this, the statements by the artist are often translated into the native language of the exhibition space, making it more accessible, and can be codified, going beyond the conventional boundaries of writing.
Textual works appear as two-dimensional sculptures, in which the construction of the third dimension is entrusted to the viewer, to his imagination and interpretation, to its ability to direct the essence, the thickness and strength of the word.

Lawrence Weiner lives and works in New York. Among the most important shows we would like to remember the retrospective at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2013), Museo d’Art Contemporanea, Barcellona (2013), Haus der Kunst, Monaco (2007), Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (2007), Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporaneo, Città del Messico (2004), Kunstmuseum, Wolfsburg (2000), Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (1994) Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington DC (1990). He participated to various edition of Documenta Kassel (1972, 1977, 1982, 2012) and Venice Biennal (1972, 1984, 2003, 2013.