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VINCENZO DE COTIIS – THE POWER OF MATERIALITY & CRAFTSMANSHIP

Carpenters Workshop presents “Eternel”, a new body of work by Vincenzo De Cotiis, introduced at the Paris premises of the gallery and the artist’s first solo show in France. The new collection signs the evolution of De Cotiis’ practice towards contemporary art.

Éternel features sculptural pieces that seek to forget functionality and submit to influences of a distant memory of the East. Preoccupied with the weathering effect of time, De Cotiis layered experimental materials into organic geometries.

De Cotiis comments: “The ethereal luminescence and transparency of the materials used, such as Murano glass and iridescent metals, alter perception while the sutures attempt the impossible: patching time…”

The exhibition is complemented by a comprehensive book on the artist’s oeuvre, published by Rizzoli Electa, with essays by the author and historian Anne Bony, the design editor of T: The New York Times Style Magazine Tom Delavan and the British architect and creative director Joseph Grima.

Milan-based artist and designer De Cotiis has extended his vision further into the gallery space itself, adding character through his redesign of the space: rough and imperfect surfaces combined with clean and minimalistic details give the gallery a new identity.

Julien Lombrail, director and co-founder of Carpenters Workshop Gallery comments: “We’re delighted to bring the first solo exhibition of Vincenzo De Cotiis to France, with our entire gallery space transformed by his new sculptural works and interior interventions. Continuing our history of collaboration with Vincenzo, with the exhibition En Plein Air in London in 2018 and our exhibition Dysfunctional in Venice for the Biennale this year, Éternel marks the next exciting chapter in Vincenzo’s practice, crossing the boundaries between art and design.”

Vincenzo De Cotiis studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano before founding his studio and architecture practice in 1997. He finds inspiration in classical art movements, from the Italian Baroque to the French Impressionists. Interpreting these movements using a contemporary lens, De Cotiis approaches his work as a painter would, considering the light, colour and materials.

He masterfully weaves together salvaged and reclaimed materials – the signs of their age left intact – with precious materials such as Indian jasper. The original form of the materials is often difficult to identify, but their histories are always visible.

De Cotiis aims for perfect imperfection, achieved through the deconstruction, re-construction, and re-appropriation of salvaged materials such as fiberglass, stone and mood. De Cotiis believes that art and functionality are fundamentally linked, and as such his pieces transcend the boundary that divides the two disciples.

De Cotiis is currently presenting his work in an installation at Ca’ d’Oro during this year’s Venice Biennale. The installation is part of the exhibition ‘Dysfunctional’ by Carpenters Workshop Gallery. On show through 24 November 2019, CA’ D’ORO, Fondamenta Trapolin 3932 Venezia Italy. Concurrently his work is presented in “Eternel”, a solo show at Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Paris.

All images: courtesy of Carpenters Workshop Gallery

VINCENZO DE COTIIS
REPRESENTED BY
CARPENTERS WORKSHOP GALLERY
NEW YORK, LONDON, PARIS, SAN FRANCISCO
https://www.carpentersworkshopgallery.com

VINCENZO DE COTIIS
ARCHITECTS AND GALLERY
MILANO, ITALY
http://www.decotiis.it

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