Superficie bianca 2005

Enrico Castellani made this 'Superficie bianca', or 'White Surface', to challenge the conventions of painting. Emerging from the cultural ferment of post-war Italy, Castellani questioned the role of the artist and the commodity status of the artwork. This piece, with its rhythmic protrusions, invites us to reconsider the very idea of surface and depth. Made in a period where Arte Povera was questioning traditional art materials, Castellani's work similarly strips away the illusionism of painting, presenting us with a tactile, almost architectural object. The monochrome palette further rejects expressive gesture, pointing instead to a more conceptual approach. To understand Castellani fully, we can explore the archives of the Azimuth Gallery in Milan, which he co-founded. These sources reveal a network of artists pushing against the established art world and its institutions. Castellani's 'Superficie bianca' serves as a critical intervention in the history of art, reflecting the socio-political shifts of its time.