Luciano CASTELLI
1951, Switzerland
Biography
1951
The artist is born in Lucerne (Switzerland).
1968-69
Studies with Max von Moos at Lucerne’s School of Applied Arts.
1969-72
Apprenticeship type designer.
He produces his first drawings and clay objects: the “Chiloums” (hashish pipes).
1970-71
Meets the artist Franz Gertsch.
1971
First performance “Solarium” at de Appel Gallery Amsterdam.
1972
Participation at the Dokumenta 5, Kassel.
1973
Stays for some time in Austria (Hinterthal).
Appearance of his first self-portraits.
Phase of the “Lucille Paintings” where he portrays himself as a woman. “Spiegelsaal” foto series (mirror room).
Self-portraits in form of performances.
1973-75
Federal Scholarship of Arts.
1974
Long stay in the USA (Hollywood/photo series).
Participates in the famous exhibition “Transformer – Aspekte der Travestie” realized by Jean-Christophe Ammann at the Kunstmuseum Lucerne, Switzerland.
Makes acquaintance with Pierre Molinier.
Glitter paintings.
1975
Series of photographs “Das grüne Reptil” (The Green Reptile) and “Sado Mado”
Photography becomes his predominant pictural instrument.
1976
Photographic illustrations for William S.Burroughs’ “Alice’s Smile”.
A series of self-portraits realized in purple-pink hues, of a somewhat hallucinatory nature.
1977
Meets Irène who becomes his model.
First portraits of women.
1977-78
Stays for a long time in Rome.
1978
Leaves Lucerne for Berlin.
Meets several young painters who would later be named the “Jungen Wilden” (The Young Wild Ones).
Establishes close friendships with Salomé and Rainer Fetting. His portraits of them reflect the depth of their friendship.
1979
Double-portraits featuring Luciano and Salomé.
Foundation with Salomé of the the Punk Rock Band “Geile Tiere” (Horny Animals).
1981
Performance with Salomé under the name “The Bitch and Her Dog” presented at the Third Symposium of Performance Art in Lyon.
Several concerts with Salomé and the band “Geile Tiere”.
He and Salomé collaborate on the joint painting “KaDeWe”.
1982
He and Rainer Fetting make the film “Rooms full of mirrors” in the Canary Islands (Lanzarote).
Joint paintings with Rainer Fetting.
Several double-portraits of Fetting and Castelli disguised as Indians
Joint paintings with Salomé.
1983
Concert performances “Opéra par Hasard” (Salomé, Fetting, Castelli):
Centre Pompidou, Paris – Théâtre Le Palace, Paris – CAPC, Bordeaux.
1984
A stay in Venice inspires the film “Venice by Night” made in collaboration with Knut Hoffmeister.
Nordmann Prize in Lucerne, Switzerland.
1985-86
A stay in the Philippines.
1986
Musical project and record “Mackie Messer” (Mack the Knife) with Kiddy Citny.
1986-91
Studio Toscana
1987
Large-sized iron and bronze sculptures, Toscany.
1989
The artist settles down to Paris.
1991
Marriage with Alexandra.
A new series of paintings represents variations of Hodler’s allegory “Truth”.
1992
Tries out finger painting.
Alexandra inspires numerous portraits and nudes.
1993-96
Invents the “Revolving Paintings”.
Lives and works in Lucerne, Paris, Toscany and Berlin.
1995-96
Intensive photographic work with a self made camera.
1995-2004
Large series of City Paintings.
1996
Birth of his son Leandro.
City Paintings.
1997
Large size Monotypes / Serigraphy.
“Revolving paintings” in black and white and colour.
City Paintings.
1998
Creates his first glass sculptures in Murano/Venice.
1999
Birth of his daughter Anjuli.
1994-2000
Creation of the Cycle “Palio in Siena”: Paintings, sculptures, canvas, drawings…
2001
Realisation and casting of large bronze sculptures “Backwardsalto” Toscany.
2002
Series of large “Selfportrait Paintings”.
2003
Continuation of the project “City Paintings”.
Park Hotel Weggis – Dining room Switzerland : The 4 Seasons.
2004
Creation of a new Series:
1 – “Charcoal Canvases”
2 – Painting of a large “Room Environment” in Monaco.
2005
Work on “Monography”.
“Photomontagen” 3D and New photoseries.
City Paintings.
2006
Works on the topic of “Nature” in his studio in the Normandy
“Revolving Paintings”
2007 / 2008
Vast series of spanish paintings and sculptures
“EL COLOR DE LOS MYTHOS”
Works in his studio in Sevilla and Paris
2009
Moves to Zurich
2009 – 2012
Works in Zurich, Paris and Normandie