Not Vital 'Places in the World'
March 17 - April 17 2010
Opening in the presence of the artist on Wednesday, March 17th from 6:30pm to 9pm.

Galerie Thaddeus Ropac is pleased to announce an upcoming exhibition of drawings by Swiss born artist, Not Vital.

Not Vital is most well-known for his sculptures which are often inspired by his surroundings, most notably the Swiss mountains of his childhood and the urban landscape of New York, where he now lives most of the time. He also spends much time in Agadez, Nigeria. This exotic worldliness is manifested in his art, allowing many potential readings of his oeuvre that is at once poetic and violent.

For this exhibition Vital will be displaying works on paper composed from 'anything he carries with him', including mud, tape and paint. Often when looking at the drawings, as with his sculptures, Vital presents us with beautifully constructed images that portray his trademark minimal approach, sense of freedom and seemingly enigmatic meaning.

The titles of Vital's works are at times, as important as the pieces themselves in understanding their meaning. They often serve to reinforce the figurative representations of the subject matter. This is also the case with Vital's drawings that demonstrate and emphasize the simplicity with which his message is conveyed.

This exhibition will channel all that is quintessential of Vital's work: puzzlement, humor, elegance, individuality and intimacy.

Not Vital was born in 1948 in Sent (Switzerland), studied in Paris and moved to New York in 1974. Today he lives between New York, Graubünden in Switzerland and Lucca in Italy. His artistic career started in the early 1970s and he turned to sculpture in the early 1980s.

For further information regarding the exhibition, please contact Victoire de Pourtalès, [email protected].