Fabrizio Plessi Italian, b. 1940
and 65 x 100 cm (25 5/8 x 39 ½ in.)
Fabrizio Plessi creates work that lies at the intersection of art, technology, and nature. A pioneer of video art in Italy during the 1960s and 1970s, he explores the possibilities offered by digital technologies through spectacular installations, often inspired by natural elements.
His work seeks not so much to set nature and technology in opposition as to bring them into coexistence. Plessi combines traditional materials—such as iron, wood, and marble—with electronic and digital systems, adopting an approach he describes as that of a "modern alchemist." Technology thus becomes a genuine artistic medium, capable of engaging in a dialogue with memory, history, and human experience.
This exploration has defined his entire career, which has been marked by exhibitions at major international institutions and the 2019 opening of the Espace Plessi in Palma de Mallorca, a space dedicated entirely to his work.
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Fabrizio PlessiConcert Video Performance Project, N° 11, 1975 - 1977Mixed media on paper50 x 65 cm (19 ¾ x 25 5/8 in.)
and 65 x 100 cm (25 5/8 x 39 ½ in.)Signed and dated. -
Fabrizio PlessiConcert Video Performance Project, N° 8, 1975 - 1977Mixed media on paper50 x 65 cm (19 ¾ x 25 5/8 in.)
and 65 x 100 cm (25 5/8 x 39 ½ in.)Signed and dated. -
Fabrizio PlessiConcert Video Performance Project, N° 13, 1975 - 1977Mixed media on paper50 x 65 cm (19 ¾ x 25 5/8 in.)
and 65 x 100 cm (25 5/8 x 39 ½ in.)Signed and dated.
and 65 x 100 cm (25 5/8 x 39 ½ in.)
"My work is that of a unique alchemist who brings together materials typical of the art world—such as iron, wood, and marble—with the iridescence of technology and electronics."
In his work, Fabrizio Plessi celebrates the immense potential of digital technology; he pushes the boundaries between art and science, and between nature and technology, creating digitally rich pieces inspired by various natural elements.
He was among the first in Italy to experiment with video art—starting in the 1960s and 70s—by creating spectacular and captivating video installations. The artist seeks to humanize technology, striking a balance between human historical consciousness and the new technologies that play an increasingly significant role in our daily lives.
Defining himself as a modern alchemist, Plessi aims to establish a relationship of cohabitation and coexistence—rather than a rift—between these two realities. "My work is that of a unique alchemist who brings together materials typical of the art world—such as iron, wood, and marble—with the iridescence of technology and electronics," the artist stated in a 2004 interview.
Fabrizio Plessi’s long career has already been marked by great success. Having exhibited in major international museums—including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, and the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin—Plessi will see the opening of the Espace Plessi in Palma de Mallorca in April 2019, a space dedicated entirely to his work.