The Austrian painter Maria Lassnig shared the 55th Venice Biennale‘s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, awarded at the Biennale’s June 1 opening, with the Italian artist Marisa Merz. For the 93-year-old artist, it is perhaps the crowning achievement of a long and prolific career.
Massimiliano Gioni, curator of “The Encyclopedic Palace,” the main Biennale exhibition, which includes half a dozen of Lassnig’s works, offered a statement in praise of the artist’s “‘body-awareness paintings,'” which, the curator said, she “has used . . . as an instrument of self-analysis.” In his view, Lassnig “represents a unique example of obstinacy and independence that deserves to be celebrated.” Although only a smattering of the artist’s works are on display, they serve as a fair representation of Lassnig’s prowess, and are one of the clear highlights of this year’s exhibition.
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