Luis Tomasello

Tomasello focuses his attention on the manifestations of light on the relief surface. The play of light-shadow and changing reflections generated from the incidence of light on the background of the work achieves a noticeable vibration in the eye of the beholder. Far from appearing static, the combination of shapes, colors and background results in a sense of movement. The structure of the work starts from the repetition of three-dimensional geometric shapes displayed on a flat surface – being the cube his main element -, to produce permanent changes in the perception of the works. Tomasello’s works experiment with the diversity of variations that depend on light and the subjectivity of the spectator’s contemplation.

Since 1960 the so-called “Atmospheres Chromoplastiques” appear in his work by applying the unstable properties of color and referring to the atmospheric effects produced by light reflections. These works aim to project themselves into the surrounding space to color it. In his beginnings, Tomasello investigates the variations of white shapes on a white background, in some cases coloring some of their sides to observe the transformations of light on color. The sides of the cubes facing the plane of the work are painted with pastel or fluorescent colors which, according to the lighting and the angle at which the piece is observed, produce a reflection on its surface that the artist named “color -sensation”. From 1981 onwards his experimentations expanded towards the search for the changes produced in the black color. In this way and unlike previous works, he will produce incisions in the black plane to observe how light falls on the negative.

Luis Tomasello (1915, La Plata – Argentina; 2014, Paris – France) studied at the Nacional School of Fine Arts Prilidiano Pueyredón and the School of Paint Ernesto de la Cárcova. Initially, his production was figurative, reaching a certain geometric style towards the end of 1940. In 1951 he made his first trip to Europe where he participated in the exhibition “Exposition d’art abstrait” at the Müller Gallery, and when he returns he co-founded the “Arte Nuevo” Asociation (New Art Association), along with Carmelo Arden Quin. He finally settled in Paris in 1957, where he made his first kinetic works and integrated the “Nouvelle Tendance movement”. In 1971 he initiated his architectural works with the construction of the Chromoplastique Mural for the San Pedro de Guadalajara Building (México), the Mural lumino-acústico for the Palais des Congres (Porte Maillot, París, Francia, 1973), the Atmosphère chromoplastique for the Fantin-Latour College (Grenoble, Francia, 1974), the chromoplástic mural of Val-de-Reuil (Francia, 1979) and the Chromoplastic Mural for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, Missouri, Estados Unidos, 2011), among others. He has made numerous solo exhibitions in renowned institutions such as: Contemporary Art Museum of La Plata, Argentina (2014); The Mayor Gallery, London, UK (2012); Museum of Fine Arts, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2002, 1962); National Art Museum, Paris, France (1976); Contemproary Art Museum, Madrid, Spain (1985); Galerie Denise René, Paris, France (1965, 1955).