Culture: To Be or Not to Be

Italian artist Giulio Paolini (b. 1940, lives and works in Turin) immerses us in elegant installations of canvases, windows, fragments of statuary and checkerboards – sometimes presented by 18th century footmen. Believing that every work of art embodies earlier traditions, Paolini pays tribute to artists such as Chardin, Lotto and Velazquez. His own face, hands and eyes reappear throughout the show, as he asks Hamlet’s question of the artist.

From To Be or Not to Be (1994–95) where canvases radiate across the floor into infinity to the existential drama of The Author Who Thought He Existed… (2013), Paolini takes us on an exhilarating journey through five decades of work exploring perception and creativity.

Produced in collaboration with MACRO, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Roma. Co-curated with Bartolomeo Pietromarchi.

With thanks for the generous support of Lisson Gallery, Marian Goodman Gallery and the Henry Moore Foundation.

Image credit: Alfa (Un autore senza nome) [Alpha (An Author without Name)] (detail) 2004, Mixed media, Collection of the artist / Courtesy Marian Goodman Gallery, New York © Giulio Paolini

Name of the event: Giulio Paolini: To Be or Not to Be

Date: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 - Sunday, September 14, 2014

Venue: Whitechapel Gallery

Address: 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX

Reserved tickets from: booking essential

Price of ticket from:

Type of event: Cultural event

Performer(s):

URL: www.whitechapelgallery.org