Gaetano Pesce Unframed by GALERIE56

GAETANO PESCE UNFRAMED Curated by Lee F. Mindel, FAIA, in collaboration with Gaetano Pesce Studio

GAETANO PESCE ‘Padova Project’ 2016 Pencil, gauche on cardboard. 36 x 20.5 CM 14.1 x 8 in.

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE UNFRAMED 2 MARCH - 8 MAY 2023

FOREWORD ¨Gaetano Pesce Unframed” is the third exhibition at Galerie56, a platform conceived to celebrate the intersection of art, architecture and design. The exhibition showcases 60 of Gaetano Pesce’s unseen drawings, as well as a curated selection of the artist’s resin objects and furniture pieces. All of Pesce’s works are displayed ‘Unframed’; the majority of which are mounted on walls and columns with clear plastic and black tape. The gesture is a nod to the commonplace materials — paper, cardboard, mylar — that the drawings are crafted with. The exhibition is a celebration of Gaetano Pesce’s boundless imagination and skills. A common motif of humanoid features instills a childlike sense of creativity in the artist’s drawings and realized architectural works. One of the greatest conceptualists of our time, Gaetano Pesce is one of the most important living figures in architecture and design today. His concept of the world and sense of materiality is uniquely characterized by a profound sense of humor. We are honored to showcase his drawings that exemplify the thought behind some of his most significant projects.

Lee F. Mindel, FAIA

This exhibition would not be possible without the scholarship, sensitivity and generosity of Gaetano Pesce.

GALERIE56 www.galerie56.com GAETANO PESCE STUDIO www.gaetanopesce.com Photography by Olympia Shannon @olyshannon Gaetano Pesce Unframed

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE ‘Project for Mourman’s House’ 1991 Pencil on paper. 54 x 43 CM 21.2 x 16.9 in.

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE ‘Human Shape Cabinet’ 1991 Oil painting on cartridge paper. 310 x 151.3 CM 122 x 59.5 in.

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE ‘Fish Coffee Table’ 2018 Resin top, wooden legs. 200 x 139 x 45 CM 78.7 x 54.7 x 17.7 in.

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE ‘Feltri’ 1986 Oil painting on cartridge paper. 136 x 90 CM 53.4 x 35.4 in

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

BAHIA HOUSE A STORY OF RESTORATION

In the 90’s Gaetano Pesce designed and built a house in a northern Brazilian town called Itacimirim (60 km from Salvador de Bahia). The location was chosen because the construction regulations in that area allowed the designer to experiment with the materials, colors, and shapes he intended to use, unlike those of European countries or North America. Even though the house hadn’t been entirely completed, Bahia house gained attention from several world renowned publications since he executed the project. In the part that was built, Gaetano Pesce drew inspiration from shapes connected to the local identity; a culture stemming from Africa that utilizes colors and figurations as a primary means of expression. The house, which was erected on a 13,000 sq. meter property, faces the Atlantic ocean in the front, while overlooking a vast lagoon in the back. The original project consisted of a public section made up of a large living room, a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. Only two pavilions have been completed. The first was built with concrete bricks coated in recylced glass, while the second was made of rubber blocks; due to the material restraints of the rubber blocks, the structure collapsed over time. Along with these structures, a house for guards and a lab have been built on the property. In early 2013, the abscense of the owner resulted in the Bahia House decaying to the point that the land was to be sold to a construction company that would demolish the villa entirely to exploit the property’s features. Just as this deal was almost sealed, a young Russian photographer living in the area learned about the imminent demolition and informed an acquaintance from San Petersburg. The acquaintance turned out to be a collector of Gaetano Pesce’s work, and after visiting the house at the end of February 2013, decided to purchase Bahia House and its adjacent land. Moreover, she wished to complete the unfinished project the way it was originally intended.

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE ‘Bahia’ 1998 Black ink and color ink on mylar.

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE ‘Maison des Enfants’ 1985-86 China ink, pencil on paper 171 x 121 CM 67.32 x 47.64 in.

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE ‘Toyosash Window’ 1990 Black ink and color ink on mylar. 205 x 137 CM 80.71 x 53.94 in.

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

CHIAT/DAY THE VIRTUAL OFFICE

“The office of the future looks like a domestic space. This is my feeling, and many share it. A house, an apartment are comprised of diverse spaces that their inhabitants use based on their needs at a given time. For example, we make the coffee in the kitchen, the same place where a moment before we were cooking. It is true also for the bathroom — even though it is reserved for strictly private uses — for the living room, the dining room, etc. The aim of all this is to say that today office spaces no longer have defined and fixed functions. Current technology allows a greater liberty of movement and offers a larger selection of workspaces to office users. And this provides people with the ability to choose not only which corner they want to settle down to work each day, but also the proximity to other staff members who share the workday. These choices can be dictated by professional priorities or simply by one’s mood. In general, an office is like a big apartment that encompases all of our everyday needs: a space that stimulates, and brings us joy, happiness, and surprises. It is a space propitious to thought, meditation, and which is also able to inform us of historical qualities of the time we are passing through.” Gaetano Pesce New York, 1994

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE ‘Sebastian Chiat Day’ 1995 Black ink and color ink on mylar. 27 x 27 CM 10.6 x 10.6 in

Gaetano Pesce Unframed

GAETANO PESCE Assorted Works

Gaetano Pesce Unframed