
Untitled
This luminous wall-mounted construction presents a vivid circular form suspended against a stark black ground, its yellow-green surface punctuated by dozens of small metallic staples that pierce and lift the material from within. The circle glows with an internal electric light source, creating a gradient that deepens toward the center, shifting from a bright acid yellow at the perimeter to a saturated emerald green at the core. Each metallic element catches and reflects the emanating light, producing a constellation of small highlights that animate the surface and give the work a restless, almost biological energy. The piece is housed in a clean aluminum frame, the power cord descending visibly from the lower edge, a deliberate acknowledgment of the mechanical underpinnings of the illusion. Franco Costalonga, a Venetian artist associated with the kinetic and programmatic art movements of the 1960s and 1970s, developed a sustained practice around the intersection of light, industrial materials, and perceptual experience. Working in the tradition of the GRAV collective and in dialogue with contemporaries such as Gianni Colombo and Bruno Munari, Costalonga consistently investigated how artificial illumination could transform inert surfaces into dynamic visual events. In this work, the humble staple becomes a generative element, each one simultaneously a wound and a reflector, a structural intervention that multiplies the light source across the plane of the composition. The choice of materials, industrial board, steel staples, commercial lighting, reflects a broader commitment to demystifying artistic production while simultaneously exploiting its sensory possibilities. For the collector, this work occupies a compelling position within the history of European kinetic and luminist art. It functions equally as sculpture, light object, and environmental presence, its appearance shifting with the ambient conditions of any given room. The scale, at 77 by 77 centimeters, allows it to command a wall without overpowering an interior, and the restrained aluminum framing ensures compatibility with both modernist and contemporary settings. Works by Costalonga remain underrepresented in major institutional collections relative to his significance within postwar Italian experimentation, making this an opportunity to acquire a strong and characteristic example from an artist whose reputation continues to attract serious scholarly attention. The visible power cord is original and integral to the work, and should be preserved as part of its authentic presentation.
- Medium
- Box, wood, mixed media on board, steel and electric system
🔨 Auction Lot
Martini Studio d'Arte: Modern And Contemporary Art
June 10, 2026
Estimate: €2,000 to €3,000
Lot 13
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