Griffa / Rajlich

QG Gallery is happy to announce our upcoming duo show with artists and friends Giorgio Griffa (b. 1936, Italy) and Tomas Rajlich (b. 1940, Czech Republic).

The exhibition will highlight their constant research in abstract painting and their focus on colour, with works from the early 1970’s to Today.

Giorgio Griffa, born in Turin, Italy, in 1936, has played a significant role in the development of Abstractism and the "Analytical Painting" movement that emerged in the late 1960s. His artistic practice is characterized by unfinished compositions, the use of anonymous patterns, and the repetition of motifs, reflecting the imperfections inherent in the artist's hand. Griffa's canvases, are freely hung on the walls, inviting viewers to engage with their unfiltered artistic expression. Central to Griffa's work is the exploration of color and space, employing signs, lines, stripes, and arabesques to create vibrant and intense compositions on rough canvas. His paintings capture immediacy and emotional depth, demonstrating a profound commitment to minimalism and contemplation as means of capturing the essence of the world.

 Griffa's career has been marked by numerous solo exhibitions and participation in prestigious events, including Contemporanea al Parcheggio di Villa Borghese, the Biennale of São Paolo, and the Biennale di Venezia. His artworks are held in esteemed collections worldwide, such as Galleria d'Arte Moderna (GAM) and Castello di Rivoli in Turin, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome, Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

 Tomas Rajlich, born in 1940 in the Czech Republic, studied at the School of Decorative Arts and the Fine Art Academy of Prague. In 1967, he founded the influential group Klub Konkretisu, which aligned with international neo-avant-garde movements such as Azimut in Italy, ZERO in Germany, and Nul in the Netherlands. Rajlich gained international recognition in 1968 when his work was featured in the exhibition "Sculpture Tchécoslovaque" at the Musée Rodin in Paris. After the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1969, Rajlich sought refuge in the Netherlands, where he became a prominent figure in Dutch conceptualism.

Rajlich's early works exhibit an industrial aesthetic and modular quality, often characterized by grids. Over time, his artistic practice evolved to explore the self-reflective nature of painting. His recent monochromatic compositions delve into the interplay between impersonal, gestural elements and the creative force of light. Rajlich's paintings, with their emphasis on intensity, luminosity, and texture, epitomize the essence of factual painting while embracing complexity.

Rajlich's significant solo exhibitions and retrospectives have been held at prestigious institutions such as Yvon Lambert Gallery in Paris, Art & Project in Amsterdam, Francoise Lambert in Milan, and the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. His works have been featured in seminal exhibitions including "Fundamentele schilderkunst: Fundamental painting" at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and "Fractures du Monochrome aujourd'hui en Europe" at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. His works are held in prominent collections including the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery in Prague, among others.

Overall, the duo show at QG Gallery promises to be a captivating exploration of Griffa and Rajlich's distinctive artistic visions, offering viewers a unique opportunity to engage with their abstract paintings and immerse themselves in the transformative power of color.