Relief, Opus 267
de Camargo, Sérgio
Life Story
Sérgio de Camargo (1930-1990) is of great interest to the centre through his engagement with Concrete Art, Constructivism and in relation to Minimalism, and early Cubism. Camargo’s exhibited at Signals gallery in London between 1964-66 after he had met gallerist Guy Brett in 1964. The gallery provided a platform for European Asian and South American artists showing a number of artists already in the Centre’s collection, namely, Li Yuan-chia, Lygia Clark, Jesús Rafael Soto and Takis among others.
Camargo made his now iconic white reliefs whilst living in Paris from 1961 to 1974. Composed of cylindrical pieces of diagonally cut wood, these reliefs resemble crystalline growth, generate a play of light and shadow across their surface to explore the organic and rhythmic disposition of the wooden pieces. The relief came to prominence in the post-war period and the Centre has a remarkable collection of these works that demonstrate the way this artform developed across Europe and South America.
The acquisition of this relief greatly enhances our representation of the international kinetic art produced in the mid-20th century. Camargo’s work is underrepresented in the UK, with just Tate having the only other example.
Calvin Winner, April 2023
Exhibitions
London, Gimpels Fils Gallery Ltd., 1970, no. 14
Atlanta, The High Museum of Art, 1987
Provenance
Provenance Gimpels Fils Gallery Ltd., London Acquired from the above in 1974.
Donation via Acceptance in Lieu – Arts Council England.
On display
Title/Description: Relief, Opus 267
Born: 1970 - 1970
Object Type: Relief
Measurements: h. 996 x w. 996 mm
Inscription: signed, titled and dated Paris 70 on the reverse
Accession Number: 50868
Historic Period: 20th century
Copyright: © The estate of Sergio de Camargo
Credit Line: Accepted in lieu of Inheritance Tax by H M Government and allocated to the Sainsbury Centre, 2023