“Non si trattava di elaborare degli spazi astratti”: Giulio Paolini all’Ariete, 1966

In the essay, the complete reconstruction of the solo show of Giulio Paolini at Galleria dell'Ariete in Milan in 1966 is provided for the first time. Despite the importance of the exhibition and the works on view in the artist's career, it has never been properly analyzed so far. The essay positions that moment in Paolini's art within the broader discussion around the visualization of space, which was preeminent among artists and critics at that time. More specifically, I aim to further investigate Paolini's approach vis-à-vis the discussion around abstraction in Italy and by establishing a comparison with American minimalism, in order to demonstrate how those works, which look apparently abstract and minimalist in style, don't relate to either tendency.