Exhibition "Stone, metal and wood", by Luiz Zerbini

Celebrating the gallery's name change, the Maneco Müller | Mul.ti.plo, in Leblon, opens a solo show with the most recent production of Luiz Zerbini, which has just presented a major retrospective exhibition at CCBB Rio, attracting over 70 visitors. The exhibition “Pedra, metal e madeira” (Stone, metal and wood) brings together around 20 recent works by the artist, including metal engravings, lithographs and monotypes, most of which are new. The critical text is written by Fred Coelho. The exhibition, which runs until November 1st, includes the launch of a large, hand-printed book, to be presented at ArtRio. The opening will be on September 4th (Wednesday), at 18 pm, with free admission. The change in the gallery’s name symbolizes the partnership between Maneco Müller and Stella Ramos at Mul.ti.plo, since 2018.

Throughout his almost 50 years of production, Luiz Zerbini's poetry stands out for its voluptuous and disconcerting landscape, combining vegetation, urban environments, fables, memory and allegories. The artist's recent production in monotype and metal engraving is the result of his encounter with Estúdio Baren, created by the Rio de Janeiro-based publisher and printer João Sánchez. For almost a decade, Zerbini and João have been researching different ways of printing monotypes, mixing techniques and materials, papers, matrices and pigments. More recently, Rio de Janeiro-based artist Gpeto also began collaborating with Estúdio Baren, joining the monotype production of João Sánchez and Luiz Zerbini.

The highlight of the gallery show are the previously unseen metal engravings in which Zerbini explores one of the most traditional artisanal printing techniques in the world. For about five years, Zerbini has been experimenting in this field thanks to his close relationship with Estúdio Baren. Maneco Müller | Mul.ti.plo emerged as a natural venue for the exhibition of this production due to the gallery's partnership with Estúdio Baren and the long-standing friendship with both Luiz Zerbini and João Sánchez.

The exhibition features five works in etching and aquatint on cotton paper in black and white, with a limited edition of 30 copies, in the format of 78 x 53 cm. “At a moment of enormous success in his career, Zerbini is expanding into another area, with the possibility of escaping the permanent demand of painting. In his metal engravings, he is able to rethink the images on his canvases, offering them new dynamics, new layers, new possibilities. This leads to another path of debate about his work. The opportunity to challenge himself, to take risks, to experiment, brings incredible freshness and strength to his new works”, explains Fred Coelho.

Zerbini’s drawings, made with drypoint and burin on the surface of the metal, are revealed on paper with an incredible subtlety of tones and strength of form. “Here, the printing time is different. The metal process is laborious, slow, complex. It demands a lot of dedication. It is something from a world that no longer exists. I always wanted to dedicate myself to this, but I never had the chance. Now with João Sánchez we have found this path”, reveals Zerbini.

The 12 monotypes are unique, measuring 107 x 80 cm, printed on cotton paper. Apart from the works presented at the MASP exhibition in 2022, including four originals used to illustrate the edition of the book “Macunaíma, o herói do Brasil” by Mário de Andrade (Editora Ubu, 2017), and another about the Canudos War, the collection of monotypes assembled is unprecedented. More than just representations of vegetation, in Zerbini’s monotypes, the inked plants and objects themselves are placed in the press, printing and giving relief with their texture to the paper. “When I discovered the possibility of using leaves as a matrix, I was very interested. From then on, we started experimenting with other materials. We did a huge amount of research,” says the artist about the partnership with Estúdio Baren.

The exhibition at Maneco Müller | Mul.ti.plo also includes the launch of a large-format artist's book at ArtRio, featuring exclusive works by Zerbini. Measuring 77 x 98 cm (closed), hand-printed, the edition has only 11 copies and will be on sale at the gallery's stand during the Rio art fair, from September 25 to 29. The book “Monstera Deliciosa Pândanus Coccothrianax Crinita Útilis Cabeluda Mucuna” was designed by João Sánchez, with editorial collaboration from Ana Luiza Fonseca. It was printed at Estúdio Baren, by João Sánchez, Juliette Boulben, and Luiza Stavale, between 2018 and 2019.

.Service
Exhibition | Stone, metal and wood
From September 04th to November 01th
Monday to Friday, from 10am to 18:30pm, Saturdays, by appointment