Amore e Psiche, 1989
GPO-0657
Cupid and Psyche
Chairs painted gold, golden card-stock wings, golden fabric, stretchers, plexiglas sheets
Two stretchers 50 x 50 cm each, two plexiglas sheets 50 x 50 cm each, overall dimensions 100 x 265 x 110 cm
Private collection
The two plexiglas sheets are arranged so that they are staggered in relation to each other, in analogy with the position of the two chairs (each chair must rest upon a sheet).
• 1990, Bari, Galleria Bonomo: the installation calls for two antique chairs and a crumpled canvas between the two wings.
• 1996, Paris, Galerie Yvon Lambert: the work is reformulated with two gilded chairs and two stretchers held down between the wings. The plexiglas sheets on the ground are determined by a criterion that is distinctive of the works on display.
Two chairs (each of which placed on a plexiglas sheet) associated with two wings, two stretchers, and a long piece of golden cloth evoke the tale of Cupid and Psyche, told by Apuleius in his novel The Metamorphoses. The story is about the adventures of the two protagonists, especially the pain and heartbreaking trials that Psyche is submitted to before being reunited with her beloved once more.
The gilded chair in the role of Psyche is upside down on the ground and wedged into the front leg of the other chair, which in the role of Cupid is associated with a pair of gilded wings, held together along with two stretchers by a cross-bar on the back, and a long piece of golden cloth, knotted to the wings, that drops down to the ground.
| 1990 | Bari, Galleria Marilena Bonomo, Giulio Paolini, from 18 April. |
| 1996 | Paris, Galerie Yvon Lambert, Giulio Paolini. L’Île enchantée, 6 January - 17 February. |
| 1998 | Graz, Neue Galerie im Landesmuseum Joanneum, Giulio Paolini. Von heute bis gestern / Da oggi a ieri, 4 April - 31 May, cited in the checklist of exhibited works no. 5 p. 182, col. repr. p. 326 (exhibition view Paris 1996). |
| 1999 | Turin, GAM Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Giulio Paolini. Da oggi a ieri, 8 May - 25 July, cited in the checklist of exhibited works no. 38 p. 38, col. repr. pp. 96-97 (exhibition view Graz 1998), 114, 116-117 (exhibition views). |
| • | Giulio Paolini. Il “Teatro” dell’opera, exhibition catalogue, Pesaro, Galleria Franca Mancini (Ravenna: Agenzia Editoriale Essegi, 1991), col. repr. p. 51 (exhibition view Bari 1990). |
| • | Italia 2000. Arte e sistema dell’Arte, edited by A. Bonito Oliva (Madrid-Milan: ARCO Madrid and Giampaolo Prearo Editore, 2000), col. repr. p. 36 (exhibition view Bari 1990). |
| • | Giulio Paolini. Premio Internazionale Koinè 2000 alla carriera, exhibition catalogue, Verona, Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Palazzo Forti (Milan: Electa, 2001), col. repr. pp. 54-55 (exhibition view Paris 1996), 58-59 (exhibition view Turin 1999), b/w repr. p. 58 (exhibition view Bari 1990). |
| • | G. Paolini, Quattro passi. Nel museo senza muse (Turin: Giulio Einaudi editore, 2006), plate no. X (exhibition view Graz 1998). |
| • | M. Disch, Giulio Paolini. Catalogo ragionato 1960-1999, vol. 2 (Milan: Skira editore, 2008), cat. no. 657 p. 673, col. repr. (exhibition view Paris 1996). |
| • | A. Rosica, “Sogno un residence a Stromboli”, in Flash Art 42, no. 275 (Milan), april-May, 2009, p. 85, col. repr. |
| • | … but, where is Bari? Percorso nell'arte contemporanea. La Galleria Bonomo dal 1971 / A Journey in contemporary art. The Bonomo Gallery since 1971 (Turin: Umberto Allemandi & C., 2010), col. repr. p. 100 (exhibition view Bari 1990). |
| • | Arte povera 2011, edited by G. Celant (Milan: Mondadori Electa, 2011), col. repr. no. 323 (exhibition view Paris 1996). |
| • | Giulio Paolini. A come Accademia, exhibition catalogue, Rome, Accademia Nazionale di San Luca (Rome: Gangemi Editore, 2023), col. repr. pp. 227 (exhibition view Graz 1998), 231 (exhibition view Turin 1999). |
