Nelson LeirnerHomage to Fontana II 1967

Homage to Fontana II is one of the best-known works of Brazilian Pop art. It imitates the format of a work on canvas but is made from fabric and zips. As the title suggests, it represents a somewhat tongue-in-cheek tribute to Italian artist Lucio Fontana. While Fontana punctured or sliced the canvas to create a new space beyond the surface of the painting, Leirner’s work is partially unzipped to reveal three additional panels of differently coloured fabric (red, pink and yellow).