{"title":"Otto Piene","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"untitled-red-otto-piene","title":"Untitled (Red) - Otto Piene","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking abstract work by Otto Piene, created using fire and smoke to produce charred, circular forms against a field of intense red.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eOtto Piene, a co-founder of the ZERO movement, developed a unique methodology involving the use of fire and smoke to create his works. This piece, dated 1967, demonstrates his interest in the elemental forces of nature and the physical transformation of materials. By applying fire directly to the surface, Piene achieved a scorched, textured effect that contrasts with the surrounding field of saturated red pigment.\n\nThe composition features a vertical alignment of circular forms, reminiscent of celestial bodies or cellular structures. The edges of these shapes are blurred, created by the soot and heat that emanate from the combustion process. This technique removes the traditional brushstroke, allowing the medium to dictate the final appearance of the work. The interaction between the controlled application of fire and the unpredictable nature of smoke results in a surface that possesses both depth and tactile quality.\n\nPiene sought to move beyond the subjective expressionism that dominated the post-war period. His focus on light, space, and elemental energy aligns with the broader goals of the ZERO group, which aimed to reset art to a state of purity. The use of fire acts as a tool for both destruction and creation, leaving behind a permanent record of the combustion event. The stark red background provides a high-contrast environment for the dark, charred forms, drawing the eye along the central axis of the work. This print captures the raw energy of Piene's original process, offering a clear view of the material textures and the precise, yet organic, arrangement of the forms. It is an example of the experimental spirit that defined European avant-garde art during the 1960s, focusing on the physical properties of the medium rather than representational imagery.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Otto Piene","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078812799311,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078843732303,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078843765071,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078843797839,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078843830607,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Untitled-Red-_Poster_CompositorV1_1782697210938.jpg?v=1782697981"},{"product_id":"yes-otto-piene","title":"Yes - Otto Piene","description":"\u003cp\u003eA 1974 smoke and soot drawing by Otto Piene, featuring ethereal, atmospheric forms created through the controlled combustion of carbon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThis work, titled 'Yes' and dated 1974, exemplifies the experimental approach of Otto Piene, a co-founder of the ZERO group. Piene is recognised for his innovative use of fire and smoke as primary artistic media. Rather than relying on traditional pigments, he utilised the controlled combustion of candles or torches to deposit soot onto the paper surface. This technique creates ethereal, atmospheric effects that appear to hover between the physical material and the void.\n\nThe composition features a central, organic form that emerges from a cloud of carbonised particles. The edges of the shape are soft and diffused, suggesting a sense of movement or a fleeting moment captured in time. The monochromatic palette, ranging from deep, opaque blacks to delicate, translucent greys, provides a sense of depth and volume. The soot particles create a unique texture, with areas of dense accumulation contrasting against lighter, wispy trails that dissipate towards the margins of the sheet.\n\nPiene's practice was concerned with the elemental forces of nature and the interaction between light and shadow. By employing smoke, he moved away from the gestural application of paint, allowing the physical process of burning to dictate the final appearance of the work. This method results in a visual language that is both precise and unpredictable. The work invites the viewer to observe the subtle gradations of tone and the delicate layering of soot, which evoke a sense of cosmic or microscopic phenomena. As a representative piece from his later career, 'Yes' demonstrates his continued exploration of light, space, and the transformative power of fire, maintaining the conceptual rigour that defined his contribution to post-war European art.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Otto Piene","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078878237007,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078881055055,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078881087823,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078881120591,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078881153359,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Yes_Poster_CompositorV1_1782698886833.jpg?v=1782699042"},{"product_id":"untitled-zodiac-costume-designs-otto-piene","title":"Untitled (Zodiac Costume Designs) - Otto Piene","description":"\u003cp\u003eA raw, expressive sketchbook spread by Otto Piene featuring conceptual costume designs for a zodiac-themed performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThis sketchbook spread offers a glimpse into the creative process of Otto Piene, a co-founder of the ZERO group. The right page displays conceptual drawings for costumes intended to represent signs of the zodiac. Piene employs a direct, gestural style, using bold black outlines and saturated red fills to define the figures. The tall, pointed hats and geometric silhouettes reflect the artist's interest in performance and the theatrical potential of light and form.\n\nThe left page features the ghost of a previous entry, where the word 'ZODIAC' and a circular star-like motif have bled through the paper. This accidental layering adds a layer of texture to the composition, revealing the physical nature of the artist's notebook. The contrast between the deliberate, expressive ink work on the right and the faint, reversed impression on the left creates a dialogue between intention and chance.\n\nPiene is recognised for his experiments with light, fire, and movement. These sketches demonstrate his ability to translate complex ideas into simple, graphic forms. The figures appear almost ritualistic, echoing the artist's fascination with cosmic themes and the elemental forces of nature. By capturing these initial thoughts, the work provides insight into the development of his performance-based projects. The raw, unrefined quality of the lines maintains the immediacy of the original moment of conception, making it a compelling piece for those interested in the working methods of mid-century avant-garde artists.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Otto Piene","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078883905871,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078885282127,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078885314895,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078885347663,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078885380431,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Untitled-Zodiac-Costume-Designs-_Poster_CompositorV1_1782699012976.jpg?v=1782699215"},{"product_id":"hurricane-otto-piene","title":"Hurricane - Otto Piene","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking fire painting by Otto Piene, created through the controlled use of combustion to produce a textured, atmospheric composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eOtto Piene, a co-founder of the ZERO group in Düsseldorf, developed a unique method of painting that utilised fire, smoke, and soot as primary materials. Hurricane belongs to his series of fire paintings, where the artist manipulated controlled flames to scorch the surface of the canvas. This process creates a physical record of combustion, moving away from traditional brushwork to embrace the elemental forces of heat and oxidation.\n\nThe composition of Hurricane suggests a violent, atmospheric event. The central area features a concentrated, charred void, surrounded by radiating patterns of soot and ash that mimic the explosive energy of a storm. The application of pigment is erratic, with drips and splatters extending towards the edges of the frame, suggesting a rapid, kinetic process. By using fire, Piene sought to strip away the subjective ego of the painter, allowing the medium to dictate the final form of the work.\n\nThis piece reflects the post-war desire for a new beginning in art, free from the constraints of historical tradition. The monochromatic palette, dominated by shades of charcoal, ash, and burnt umber, emphasises the texture and depth of the scorched surface. The subtle inclusion of blue tones provides a sharp contrast to the otherwise dark, earthy composition. The work captures the tension between destruction and creation, as the fire simultaneously consumes the canvas and constructs a complex, layered image. It remains a primary example of Piene's experimental approach to materiality and his interest in the interaction between light, space, and natural phenomena.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Otto Piene","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078890295631,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078890393935,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078890426703,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078890459471,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58078890492239,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Hurricane_Poster_CompositorV1_1782698172759.jpg?v=1782700115"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/collections\/otto-piene.oembed","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}