François Morellet: In-Coherent
JANUARY 26 – APRIL 7, 2021
The late French creator François Morellet (1926-2016), a prolific, self-taught painter, sculptor, and installation artist, developed a radical approach to geometric abstraction during a career spanning more than six decades. Incorporating steel, neon tubes, iron, adhesive tape, wire mesh and wood into his work, he strove to dismantle traditional hierarchies and embraced the elements of randomness and chance. Throughout his career, the pioneering French artist committed to a methodology of rigorous objectivity and personal detachment. Morellet’s playfulness and wit are also revealed in the titles of his works, which often include tongue-in-cheek puns, parody, and wordplay.
The artist’s inaugural exhibition at Hauser & Wirth, François Morellet: In-Coherent, will feature key abstract geometric paintings, neon works and wall drawings dating from 1953 to 2013. The exhibition will explore the artist’s use of light and movement, challenging the viewer’s understanding of perception and the physical picture plane. Organized with Olivier Renaud-Clément, the works on view will underscore the full breadth of Morellet’s career and artistic practice, bringing further awareness to the wide-ranging output and lasting influence of this remarkable artist.
