Dimensions: 41.5 x 29.5 cm (sheet)
Inscribed on the reverse: 'R.Opalka'
Literature
Catalog of early works. Roman Opalka, [opr.] Pawel Sosnowski, Maciej Piasecki, Warsaw 1998, p.31 (ill.)
Biography
Spent the war in Germany, returned to France in 1945, came to Poland a year later. In 1950 he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz, and from 1950-56 he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Since 1965 he was active in France. A representative of conceptualism. Initially, he created acidorites (including the series Describing the World); later, spatial compositions made of canvas, called "hoverboards"; and from 1965 he began to cover his canvases, which he called "details" with rows of consecutive numbers, starting from one (the first was written with numbers from 1 to 35327), which was supposed to reflect the passage of time. The canvases were accompanied by a photograph of the artist's face showing signs of aging and a recording of his voice. He is the recipient of many awards, including: C.K. Norwid Art Criticism Award. He participated in the Sao Paulo Biennale (1969 and 1977), Documenta in Kassel (1977 ), Venice Biennale (1995).