Pioneer of video art Aldo Tambellini dies at 90
Aldo Tambellini, a trailblazer in video art and of Italian-American descent, passed away at the age of 90 on November 12, 2020. He was born on April 29, 1930, in Syracuse, New York, but spent part of his childhood in Lucca, Italy. Upon returning to the United States, he founded the counterculture collective Group Center and organized public art events. In 1967, he collaborated with Otto Piene to launch the Black Gate Theatre, focusing on 'electromedia art.' Inspired by Marshall McLuhan, he developed Electromedia Performances that blended different artistic disciplines. The Black Gate showcased talents such as Nam June Paik and Yayoi Kusama. His works, which delved into themes of blackness and social commentary, were exhibited at institutions like Tate Modern, MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and the Venice Biennale. His death was announced by the Aldo Tambellini Art Foundation.
Key facts
- Aldo Tambellini died on November 12, 2020, at age 90.
- He was born on April 29, 1930, in Syracuse, New York.
- He co-founded the Black Gate Theatre with Otto Piene in 1967.
- Tambellini pioneered 'electromedia art' combining technology with moving images.
- His Electromedia Performances merged painting, film, video, poetry, light, dance, sound, and live music.
- Blackness was a central theme in his work, representing cosmology, absence of light, and African American identity.
- His Black Films featured abstract imagery painted directly on film.
- His work has been exhibited at Tate Modern, MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and the Venice Biennale.
Entities
Artists
- Aldo Tambellini
- Otto Piene
- Nam June Paik
- Yayoi Kusama
- Marshall McLuhan
- Pia Bolognesi
- Giulio Bursi
Institutions
- Aldo Tambellini Art Foundation
- Group Center
- Black Gate Theatre
- Atelier Impopulaire
- Tate Modern
- MoMA
- Centre Pompidou
- Venice Biennale
Locations
- Syracuse
- New York
- United States
- Lucca
- Italy
- Lower East Side
- London
- Paris
- Venice