L'accord bleu (RE 10), 1960 cropped, Yves Klein under wikipedia commons, MatchArt

Yves Klein and Arman "Le Vide et le Plein"

Klein’s "emptiness" and Arman’s "fullness" in comparison at the Olgiati Collection in Lugano.

The exhibition "Yves Klein and Arman. Le Vide et Le Plein" offers a unique opportunity to explore the interaction between two prominent figures of "Nouveau Réalisme." Curated by Bruno Corà, and with the concept by the famous architect Mario Botta, the exhibition not only celebrates the connection between Klein and Arman, both born in Nice in 1928, but also highlights their contrasting yet complementary visions: Yves Klein’s "emptiness" (Le Vide) and Arman’s "fullness" (Le Plein).

The exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Yves Klein Foundation, unfolds across five spaces. Each section places the two artists in direct comparison, creating a visual conversation between their works. The journey begins with a dialogue between Klein's monochromes—created with pure pigments—and Arman's imprints, made with inked stamps. It then moves to Klein's anthropometries, where bodies are used as expressive tools, and Arman’s famous accumulations of objects, which reflect on consumer culture and materiality.

This "face-to-face" of sixty works provides a profound reflection on the themes of "emptiness" and "fullness," offering a comprehensive view of the impact of "Nouveau Réalisme" on European and international art. The event is an unmissable opportunity to appreciate the dialogue between two artistic languages that, though opposing, complement and enrich each other.

At Collezione Giancarlo e Danna Olgiati, Lugano until 12 January 2025. 

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