Piene, Otto | Addis Abeba IX, 1972 — available on Composition Gallery

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Color screen print, signed by the artist. - Printed by Siebdrucktechnik, Essen. - Published by Edition Merian, Krefeld. Literature: Galerie Rottluff (ed.): Otto Piene - Werkverzeichnis der Druckgrafik 1960-76, Karlsruhe 1977, cat. rais. no. 149-158.

Addis Abeba IX works almost entirely in blue, dark navy gestures sweeping across a vivid blue ground. A pale, luminous disc floats at the top like a moon, a single small triangle at its heart, while broad arcs of deep blue brushwork curve outward into symmetrical wings. A sharp black spike descends at the centre, grounding the radiant form. The tonal restraint makes it the most meditative plate of the portfolio. Signed by Otto Piene in 1972 and printed by Siebdrucktechnik, Essen, it is a serene cosmic vision from the ZERO pioneer.

Otto Piene (Germany, 1928–2014) was a pioneering artist and co-founder of the ZERO movement, known for his innovative light and fire art. His works explored immateriality and energy, incorporating mediums like smoke, fire, and projections. Iconic pieces such as Light Ballet reflect his fascination with light as a transformative force in art.

Otto Piene

Addis Abeba IX, 1972

Name: Addis Abeba IX, 1972
SKU: 17572
Price: 2800.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Screen-print

Screen-print Screen printing is a technique where ink is transferred through a mesh onto a substrate, with areas blocked by a stencil to prevent ink from passing through. This method, also known as serigraphy or silkscreen printing, is commonly used to produce prints on posters, T-shirts, vinyl, stickers, wood, and other materials. The process is a type of stencil printing, allowing for vibrant, detailed designs on various surfaces.

Edition

Edition of 90

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Light is my medium. Previously, paintings and sculptures seemed to glow. Now they do.
- Otto Piene

Otto Piene is a German artist who studied art at both the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and the Academy of Art in Munich. He also studied philosophy at the University of Cologne and worked as a fashion lecturer for several years at the Fashion Institute in Düsseldorf. Otto Piene founded with Heinz Mack the group Zero, where later Gunther Uecker joined. He created his own unusual techniques to achieve stunning visual results. One of Otto Piene’s favorite techniques was to use stencil paintings on grids. In one series of paintings, he used the light from torches projected through the grids. In another, Otto Piene used different sources of fire, such as gas burners or candles, to add smoke to his work. Otto Piene did not limit his work to using only these techniques. Some of his pieces involved printing and he even experimented with both industrial design and kinetic sculpture performance. He designed a statue in the form of a mining lamp in 1999. The statue, called Das Geleucht, was on display in Germany until 2007.

Artwork by Gunther Uecker

What is the Zero Movement?

ZERO was an art movement founded by Otto Piene and Heinz Mack, aiming to develop into a large international and cross-border movement. The name ZERO originated from a magazine founded by Heinz Mack in 1957, which became a platform for the group's ideas. The magazine was published for several years before ceasing in 1967. The ZERO movement sought to create a new beginning in art, emphasizing light, space, and movement, and became influential in post-war European art.

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Otto Piene

Addis Abeba IX, 1972

146 x 96 cm

Language & Currency

Otto Piene