Getulio Alviani

Getulio Alviani (born 5 September 1939 in Udine) is an Italian painter based in Milan. He is considered to be an important International Optical - kinetic artist.

Alviani was born in Udine, where he showed talent for design and geometric drawing since his childhood. He enrolled in the Venice Art School, but soon showed little interest in his studies, spending afternoons in Venice's museums in contemplation of classical masterpieces. He also started making little works for local architects, and helped local artists in inking projects such as etchings.

His first series was "The Wires", inspired by aerial electric wires. Fascinated by some polished alumnium surfaces found in a factory in which he was working: after further polishing and abrasion, he created his landmark "Superfici a testura vibratile" (vibrating texture surfaces), winning international acclaim. In 1961 he was invited to the Zagreb exhibition "Nove Tendencije", together with other artists working along similar lines and exploring the opportunities of a dynamic art which interacts with the viewer. He started exchanging ideas with artists like Julio Le Parc, François Morellet and Enrico Castellani, actively participating in the activities of the so-called G.R.A.V. (Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuelle) in Paris.

In 1962 he moved to Milan, where he became friend with Piero Manzoni and Lucio Fontana, who was very interested in his works and bought some of his "surfaces". He also worked with other famous artists like Max Bill, Bruno Munari and Josef Albers. In 1964 he was invited to show at the Venice Biennale, successfully sharing a room with Enrico Castellani.

In 1965 Alviani took part to The Responsive Eye at MoMA in New York, together with other artists associated with Kinetic and Programmed Art. His work was purchased by MoMA and used as poster image for the museum's next exhibition, "The New Acquisitions". In 1968 he was invited at Kassel's Documenta 4.

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