Relief, Opus 267

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