Dull-Amaranth Disk 1966

Gianni Piacentino made this disc, painted a most interesting color, which appears to be an interplay between red and purple. The surface is smooth, without any texture, like a Minimalist dream! Think about the color for a moment: “dull amaranth.” It’s a complicated, quiet shade. I am reminded of a faded flower, maybe a tulip. Its form is a simple circle, lying flat like a large plate or an unearthly stepping stone. The shadow it casts is subtle. This shadow is the most animated part of the piece, because without it, it would be hard to read this as three dimensional, as sculpture. It invites you to question your perception. There is a stillness to this work. You could see Piacentino as part of a lineage of Italian artists who really understood a quiet way to change the world. Think of Morandi. It’s definitely about an idea. It asks us to slow down, maybe even reconsider what we think of as important.