Azzurro 1997

This is Agostino Bonalumi’s Azzurro, and I’m immediately drawn to its dreamy blue surface, a colour that pulls you in. It’s not just a painting; it's an object, something in between painting and sculpture, which is exciting. Looking closely, the canvas isn't flat, is it? There are these swellings, protrusions, like something’s pushing from behind, or maybe it's breathing. It reminds me of Lucio Fontana, but softer, less violent. The texture is smooth, almost like skin stretched over a frame. The light catches these raised areas, creating subtle shadows that give the whole piece a gentle, undulating rhythm. Your eye doesn't quite know where to land, which is part of the appeal. It’s a quiet piece, but it has a real presence. Bonalumi is playing with form and space, and I think he is inviting us to consider the possibilities of what a painting can be.