FrancoVACCARI
About
A true pioneer with regard to the contemporary use of media, especially photography, Franco Vaccari is the forerunner of a unique and resonant current in the history of contemporary art.
His work can be described as "conceptual realism", distinguished by the use of techniques that leave the traditional idea of a work of art far behind, and likewise its relationship with the public. Many of his works include the viewers’ direct involvement; they are never completed but always in a state of becoming, a work in progress in continuous transformation, open to the unexpected and chance.
Franco Vaccari was born in Modena in 1936. After a science-based education, he earned a degree in physics. He made his debut in the arts as a visual poet with his first works Pop esie (1965), Entropico and Le traces (1966), the last of these was particularly significant for the way he used photography to present graffiti as anonymous, found poetry.
The theme of traces and the use of photography are two constants that run through all his work. From the outset, Vaccari has never used photography to produce mimetic or analogical images, but as the mark of a presence, signal, or physical trace, an attestation of “being there” that derives its true meaning from the existential, often opaque relationship that links it to what caused it. He held his first solo show at the Galleria dell’Elefante in Venice in 1966.
His project for the Venice Biennial in 1972, Exhibition in Real Time No. 4: Leave a photographic trace of your passage on these walls, remains emblematic.
In 1977 he began working with Studio Marconi, exhibiting at the gallery in 1979, 1984 and 2011. He is recognised as the originator of the concept Exhibition in Real Time, which he has explored both theoretically and through his art. Franco Vaccari’s work has always been accompanied by his theoretical reflections.
Among his publications are Duchamp e l’occultamento del lavoro (1978) and Fotografia e inconscio tecnologico (1979), considered fundamental critiques on contemporary photography. In 2010 he published Duchamp messo a nudo - Dai readymade alla finanza creativa.
He has taught courses at the École Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Strasbourg, and from 2004 to 2014 at the Faculty of Architecture, Milan Polytechnic.
In addition to his personal show at the 1972 Venice Biennial, he also had his own room at the Venice Biennial of 1980 and 1993. In 1984, the Museum of Modern Art in Vienna held an anthological exhibition of his work.
In 1999 he participated in the Minimalia show at PS1 in New York. As a result of his video work, he was invited in 2003 to the Locarno Film Festival. In 2007, Spazio Oberdan in Milan held a retrospective exhibition titled Franco Vaccari: Col Tempo, which transferred in 2008 to the Museo Cantonale d’Arte in Lugano.
In 2010 he was assigned a personal room at the Biennial of Gwanju (Korea) and at the exhibition Strange Comfort at Basel Kunsthalle. Further solo shows were held that year at Galleria Emilio Mazzoli in Modena and at Galleria Michela Rizzo in Venice.
In 2011 and in 2017 he exhibited at Fondazione Marconi.
He has created forty-five Exhibitions in Real Time, made numerous videos, and produced twenty-eight artist’s books.
Franco Vaccari lives and works in Modena.
His work can be described as "conceptual realism", distinguished by the use of techniques that leave the traditional idea of a work of art far behind, and likewise its relationship with the public. Many of his works include the viewers’ direct involvement; they are never completed but always in a state of becoming, a work in progress in continuous transformation, open to the unexpected and chance.
Franco Vaccari was born in Modena in 1936. After a science-based education, he earned a degree in physics. He made his debut in the arts as a visual poet with his first works Pop esie (1965), Entropico and Le traces (1966), the last of these was particularly significant for the way he used photography to present graffiti as anonymous, found poetry.
The theme of traces and the use of photography are two constants that run through all his work. From the outset, Vaccari has never used photography to produce mimetic or analogical images, but as the mark of a presence, signal, or physical trace, an attestation of “being there” that derives its true meaning from the existential, often opaque relationship that links it to what caused it. He held his first solo show at the Galleria dell’Elefante in Venice in 1966.
His project for the Venice Biennial in 1972, Exhibition in Real Time No. 4: Leave a photographic trace of your passage on these walls, remains emblematic.
In 1977 he began working with Studio Marconi, exhibiting at the gallery in 1979, 1984 and 2011. He is recognised as the originator of the concept Exhibition in Real Time, which he has explored both theoretically and through his art. Franco Vaccari’s work has always been accompanied by his theoretical reflections.
Among his publications are Duchamp e l’occultamento del lavoro (1978) and Fotografia e inconscio tecnologico (1979), considered fundamental critiques on contemporary photography. In 2010 he published Duchamp messo a nudo - Dai readymade alla finanza creativa.
He has taught courses at the École Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Strasbourg, and from 2004 to 2014 at the Faculty of Architecture, Milan Polytechnic.
In addition to his personal show at the 1972 Venice Biennial, he also had his own room at the Venice Biennial of 1980 and 1993. In 1984, the Museum of Modern Art in Vienna held an anthological exhibition of his work.
In 1999 he participated in the Minimalia show at PS1 in New York. As a result of his video work, he was invited in 2003 to the Locarno Film Festival. In 2007, Spazio Oberdan in Milan held a retrospective exhibition titled Franco Vaccari: Col Tempo, which transferred in 2008 to the Museo Cantonale d’Arte in Lugano.
In 2010 he was assigned a personal room at the Biennial of Gwanju (Korea) and at the exhibition Strange Comfort at Basel Kunsthalle. Further solo shows were held that year at Galleria Emilio Mazzoli in Modena and at Galleria Michela Rizzo in Venice.
In 2011 and in 2017 he exhibited at Fondazione Marconi.
He has created forty-five Exhibitions in Real Time, made numerous videos, and produced twenty-eight artist’s books.
Franco Vaccari lives and works in Modena.
