William Anastasi

THOMAS REHBEIN GALERIE, COLOGNE & STALKE GALLERI

HALL 11.3 / STAND E11

WILLIAM ANASTASI

Thomas Rehbein Galerie and Stalke Galleri presented a retrospective insight into the manifold oeuvre of William Anastasi.

Anastasi, born in 1933 in Philadelphia, was considered to be one of the founders of both Conceptual and Minimal Art. During the sixties, Anastasi was represented by the Virginia Dwan Gallery in New York, among others such as Sol LeWitt, Robert Morris, and Carl Andre. Although the focus was not on him, Anastasi created relevant works before the respective movements were named. His works dealt with the central themes of Conceptualism: tautology, the erasure of boundaries, and dematerialization.

In addition to drawings, photographs, and prints, a number of videos documenting the originating process of his works were on view. These included the “Subway Drawings,” which Anastasi created while riding to his daily chess game with John Cage. Sitting with a pencil in each hand and a drawing board on his lap, the artist, with eyes closed, allowed the rhythm of the moving train — its starts, stops, and turns, accelerations and decelerations — to be transformed into lines on paper.

The physicality of the drawings also became apparent in his drawing Burst. This dynamic, outward-pressing kind of “eruption” on the paper was made by Anastasi while blindfolded. Furthermore, relevant literature highlighted Anastasi’s literary work, including his interest in works by James Joyce and Alfred Jarry, as well as his personal contact with writers and musicians.

Sam Jedig and Thomas Rehbein

William Anastasi, Stalke Galleri & Thomas Rehbein Galerie, Art Cologne, 2014.

William Anastasi, Red Crayon, 2005

The opening

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