Artist: Sergio Sarri
Exhibition title: Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971 – 2021
Venue: Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris, France
Date: January 29 – March 26, 2022
Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Fitzpatrick Gallery is pleased to announce a retrospective survey of the Italian artist Sergio Sarri (born 1938, Torino), organized in collaboration with Octagon (Milan), an exhibition space curated by artist Jacopo Mazzetti.
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At the core of Sarri’s work lies a committed fascination with the relationship between man and machine. In his sleekly stylized canvases, Sarri collages fragmented elements — both human and mechanical — into dark, often erotic fantasies reminiscent of 1920s cinema, such as Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927) and Robert Wiene’s Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). With the vivid colors and violent contrasts of his canvases, Sarri’s futuristic visions evoke the cruelty of two parallel worlds in constant friction, in which man has become subordinate to the machines they themselves created.
The realism of certain elements, with their reflective surfaces and meticulously depicted curves, is juxtaposed with entirely flat areas, devoid of a sense of depth. Sarri’s paintings are often built from collages and divided into zones in the manner of a comic, without a narrative sequence. The precise detailing of screws, coils, and blades that constitute metallic structures, positions the human body as a tense and fragile object, controlled by the strong domination of metallic structures and hybrid apparatuses.
Sarri originally studied painting in Bern, Switzerland and then in Paris in the late 1950s, but it was his first visit to the United States in 1965 when the subject of his paintings shifted to explore the connections between humanity and technology, which have remained the dominant themes of his career. For more than five decades he has continued to propose balanced juxtapositions between fantasy and analytic reality, with an iconographic symbolism that evokes science and science fiction. This exhibition offers the opportunity to discover (or rediscover) Sergio Sarri, a pioneer of the dualistic figuration between humanity and machinery whose iconic imagery remains pertinent to our current hyper accelerationist era.
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Paintings & Works On Paper: 1971-2021, 2022, exhibition view, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Grande Tavolo d’Analisi, 1971 – 1972, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 143 x 143 cm, 56 1/4 x 56 1/4 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Grande Tavolo d’Analisi II, 1971, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 132 x 117 cm, 52 x 46 1/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Studio per Segnali, 1972, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 60 x 50 cm, 23 5/8 x 19 3/4 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Turbina, 1983, Watercolor, acrylic and ink on board mounted on canvas, 70 x 50 cm, 27 1/2 x 19 3/4 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Particolari, 1974, Rotoflexographic print on aluminium (framed), 75 x 55 cm, 29 1/2 x 21 5/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Studio per esperimento e macchina, 1974, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 50 x 35 cm, 19 3/4 x 13 3/4 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Manometro A, 1973, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 100 x 81 cm, 39 3/8 x 31 7/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Attrezzo Calcolatore, 1973, Acrylic on canvas, 60 x 50 cm, 23 5/8 x 19 3/4 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Fase 4, esecuzione, 1975, Acrylic on canvas with plastic wire, brushed aluminum, aluminun and syn-thetic leather inserts (framed), 146 x 114 cm, 57 1/2 x 44 7/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Analisi di Correlazione, 1975, Acrylic on canvas and brushed alumi-num inserts in artist’s frame, 100 x 80 cm, 39 3/8 x 31 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Filo rosso e tiranti, 1975, Acrylic on canvas and plastic inserts (framed), 80 x 60 cm, 31 1/2 x 23 5/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Studio per esperimento al polso, 1976, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 61 x 50 cm, 24 1/8 x 19 3/4 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Studio per grande schermo, 1973 – 1974, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 61 x 61 cm, 24 1/8 x 24 1/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, La Fantome de la Liberté, 1985, Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 70 cm, 39 3/8 x 27 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Il Grande Robot, 1979, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 150 x 116 cm, 59 1/8 x 45 5/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Piscina, 1989, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 123 x 153 cm, 48 3/8 x 60 1/4 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, L’inumano n°4, 1987, Acrylic on canvas, 146 x 114 cm, 57 1/2 x 44 7/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Studio per l’Isola IV, 1988, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 70 x 100 cm, 27 1/2 x 39 3/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, L’Olimpo, 1980, Acrylic on board (framed), 93 x 66 cm, 36 5/8 x 26 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Uomo e spazio, 1984, Acrylic on cardboard (framed with synthetic wool backing), 46 x 39.5 cm; 18 1/8 x 15 1/2 in (frame), 34 x 27 cm; 13 3/8 x 10 5/8 in (print). Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Passaggi, 1984, Acrylic on cardboard (framed with synthetic wool backing), 46 x 39.5 cm; 18 1/8 x 15 1/2 in (frame), 34 x 27 cm; 13 3/8 x 10 5/8 in (print). Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, L’alba del mondo, 1984, Acrylic on cardboard (framed with synthetic wool backing), 46 x 39.5 cm; 18 1/8 x 15 1/2 in (frame), 34 x 27 cm; 13 3/8 x 10 5/8 in (print). Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Insects, 2020-2021, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 26 x 25 cm; 10 1/4 x 9 7/8 in (framed), 17 x 16 cm; 6 3/4 x 6 1/4 in, Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Operazione alphaville, 2021, Acrylic on canvas (framed), 31 x 27 cm; 12 1/4 x 10 5/8 in (framed), 23 x 18 cm; 9 1/8 x 7 1/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, The shining girl, 2021, Acrylic on canvas, 26 cm x 33 cm; 10 1/4 x 13 in (framed), 17 x 24 cm; 6 3/4 x 9 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Un analisi antropologica, 2021, Acrylic on canvas, 32 x 27 cm; 12 5/8 x 10 5/8 in (framed), 23 x 18 cm; 9 1/8 x 7 1/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Atom robot, 2020-2021, Acrylic on canvas, 26 x 33 cm; 10 1/4 x 13 in (framed), 16 x 23 cm; 6 1/4 x 9 1/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Il sogno dell’automa, 2021, Acrylic on canvas, 34 x 30 cm; 13 3/8 x 11 3/4 in (framed), 24 x 20 cm; 9 1/2 x 7 7/8 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
Sergio Sarri, Stanza Meccanica con Robot (Metropolis), 1983, Acrylic on canvas, 80 x 75 cm, 31 1/2 x 29 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist, Octagon, Milan & Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris