Homage to Fontana II
- Artist: Nelson Leirner
- Date: 1967
- Medium: Cotton, steel and aluminium
- Dimensions: object: 1800 x 1240 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Homage to Fontana II” by Nelson Leirner, created in 1967. The work is a playful nod to Italian artist Lucio Fontana, who famously punctured canvases to open a new space beyond the surface. Leirner takes that idea and replaces the literal cut with a series of zippers that hide panels of differently coloured fabric. Originally he invited viewers to engage with the piece, zipping and unzipping the panels to create reversible “cuts” themselves. The piece is made of cotton, steel and aluminium, giving it a sculptural feel while still behaving like a painting. Leirner first showed this concept at the 7th São Paulo Biennial in 1963, and later in 1969 he boycotted the 10th Biennial in protest of Brazil’s military dictatorship. The work remains an intriguing conversation between surface and depth, inviting each visitor to become part of the narrative.
See it in person
Homage to Fontana II is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
