rudolf stingel covers palazzo grassi’s interior in carpet

rudolf stingel covers palazzo grassi’s interior in carpet
all images courtesy of palazzo grassi

rudolf stingel
palazzo grassi, venice
now through december 31, 2013

for his solo show at palazzo’s grassi, venice, new york based artist rudolf stingel has canvassed the entire interior of the gallery in an ottoman carpet, lining the floors, walls and halls in richly ornamented designs. the predominately red motifs span almost every surface of the 5,000 square meter area, unfolding into the main atrium and wrapping around entryways and corridor doors. the installation bears witness to the lineage of the classical palazzo’s locale, which historically hosted trade of exotic, luxury rugs brought through venice from the middle east. characteristic of stingel’s creative research, the immersive installation evaluates the relationship between exhibition space and artistic intervention.

 
juxtaposing the expansive blaze of chroma are thirty, near-monochrome oil paintings hung sparingly on the walls. both very small, and quite large images of varying styles are intermittently laid out throughout the three floors, some referencing art history, others contemporary minimalism. navigating the space, visitors observe the vast diversity in aesthetic and theme — stingel‘s melancholy self-portrait, abstracted gray compositions, and detailed, black and white paintings of sculptural work. the show marks the first time the museum has ever devoted a whole exhibition area to the work of a single artist.

the rug pattern wraps around entryways and corridor doors

monochrome oil paintings are hung sparingly on the walls

the red motifs span almost every surface of the 5,000 square meter area

visitors may observe the vast diversity in aesthetic and theme of the paintings on display

paintings include black and white portraits of sculptural work

an abstracted gray composition hung on the wall

large-scale images are featured on the patterned backdrop

every part of the walls and floor of the gallery space are covered in the traditional pattern

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