Turi Simeti

Dep Art Gallery, Milan (acquired directly from the artist)

Acquired from the above in 2013 by the present owner

Christian Maretti, Turi Simeti. Catalogo generale, vol. I, Monaco 2007, n.n., p. 26

Antonio Addamiano, Federico Sardella, Turi Simeti. Catalogo ragionato 1960-2016, Milano 2017, n. 88, p. 508-509, illustrated in colour

Exh. Cat., Alberto Zanchetta, Turi Simeti. Anni Sessanta, Dep Art, Milano, 2013, n.n., p. 48, illustrated

• An early and concentrated example of the artist's exploration of form.
• Executed in 1965, marking a key period of his transition into Zero-inspired Minimalism.
• A prime study in the relationship between monochrome color and physical volume.

Due ovali is a powerful, meditative work that perfectly encapsulates Turi Simeti’s dedication to geometric abstraction and the tactile surface of the canvas. Executed in a rich, dark blue monochrome, the square canvas features two distinct, subtly raised oval forms that jut outward, interrupting the flatness of the picture plane. These sculptural protrusions are not painted additions but integral manipulations of the shaped canvas itself, which, under light, cast delicate, shifting shadows that become the primary elements of the composition.

This work is a quintessential example of the artist’s known style and technique, developed following his crucial time in Milan during the 1960s. Simeti became known for reducing his artistic language to a single shape, the oval, repeated across a monochromatic surface. By employing acrylic on shaped canvas, he challenged the traditional function of painting, transforming the two-dimensional surface into an object of quiet, rhythmic complexity. The dark blue colour chosen here enhances the perceived depth, making the subtle reliefs a study in optics and light interaction, rather than simple colour or composition.

Turi Simeti's influential role in Post-War abstraction has been widely recognized by leading institutions. His work has been featured in significant retrospective exhibitions, including the solo presentation Turi Simeti: 1960–2015 at the Aachener Kunstsammlungen, Aachen, Germany in 2015. Additionally, he was the subject of an important survey, Turi Simeti: La linea dell'infinito at the Palazzo Reale, Milan, Italy in 2017, confirming his ongoing institutional relevance both in Italy and internationally.