Trial 1956

“Trial,” by Conrad Marca-Relli, is made from canvas and vinyl, assembled in a collage-like composition. This is an unusual combination of materials, challenging the way we look at painting. Marca-Relli has used industrial materials in unexpected ways. The canvas provides a traditional painterly surface, but the addition of vinyl introduces an element of contemporary material culture. Vinyl is a common, mass-produced material that is often associated with cheapness and disposability. Here, Marca-Relli elevates it to the realm of fine art, engaging with the history of collage as a medium. The rough edges and visible seams of the assembled materials reveal the artist's process, emphasizing the work involved in creating this piece. This focus on process encourages us to consider the social and cultural context in which the work was made, blurring the boundaries between art and everyday life. By using such materials, the artist challenges the idea of painting as a purely aesthetic pursuit.