Gianni Colombo, Cromostruttura, Kinetic Light Object, 1961, Metal & Plastic

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rare and early piece of kinetic light art. Through a column of acrylic glass the light is transformed and redirected … Read more rare and early piece of kinetic light art. Through a column of acrylic glass the light is transformed and redirected while its colors change constantly.

As a pioneer in kinetic art and light art, Gianni Colombo created this work in a time when society was moving at a high pace. Consumer culture, cars and even rockets sent into space. The work is a reaction to the development of technologiy and industrialisation. It's a multiple which transforms through movement. Its relevance can be best understood in the context of both design and art theory.

Where functionalism embraced industrial standardisation, it also believed that standardisation should not lead to uniformity. Through kinetics and modularity the standardised products should be adjustable. Functionalism deliberately placed the user/viewer at the center of its aims and it rejected the idea of individual expression of the artist.

Besides all functional needs Gianni Colombo recognised a human need to learn by playing. He wanted the viewer to become aware of his perception of space and time, often by starting of with a regular and comprehensible grid that would then be transformed. So the viewer needs to constantly adjust and reevaluate his/her perception.

Colombo's work became a source of inspiration for artists and designers alike. In 1962 Gianni and his brother Joe would design the Acrilica lamp in which the direction of the light is also transformed. For the Acrilica they won the Compasso d'Oro prize. A decade later the designs of New Lamp would be heavily inspired by the works of Gianni Colombo and his fellow artists.

The Cromostruttura is a small, but significant piece of art and design history. It was meant as an industrially produced artwork, but it was largely made by hand. This is number 11 from an edition of 100 This piece has an attribution mark,
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