Eduarda Emilia Maino, known by the moniker Dadamaino, was an Italian visual artist and painter born on October 2, 1930, in Milan, Italy. She emerged as a significant figure in the Milanese avant-garde of the 1960s, a period marked by radical experimentation and a departure from traditional art forms. Before embarking on her artistic journey, Dadamaino completed a medical degree, showcasing her diverse interests and capabilities. However, at the end of the 1950s, she made a decisive turn towards art, a field where she would leave an indelible mark. Dadamaino's early life in post-war Italy was set against a backdrop of cultural and political upheaval, which influenced the direction of her artistic explorations. She was affectionately nicknamed "Dada," a nod to her given name, Eduarda. This period was characterized by a collective yearning for new forms of expression and a break from the past, themes that would deeply resonate in Dadamaino's work. In the late 1950s, Dadamaino began to frequent a group of young artists who were followers of Lucio Fontana and the spatialism movement. This group included notable figures such as Piero Manzoni, Gianni Colombo, Enrico Castellani, and Agostino Bonalumi. It was within this vibrant community that Dadamaino's artistic vision began to take shape, influenced by the ideas of spatialism which sought to transcend the two-dimensionality of the canvas. Dadamaino's artistic breakthrough came in 1958 with the creation of her Volumi series, which she exhibited in her first solo show at the Galleria dei Bossi in Milan. The Volumi series was revolutionary, consisting of monochrome canvases with precise cuts, creating a dynamic interplay of space and void. This work signaled her departure from traditional painting and her exploration into the realms of spatial concepts and viewer interaction. Shortly after her initial success, Dadamaino joined Azimuth, a group founded by Piero Manzoni, and later became associated with the Germany-based Group Zero, formed by Heinz Mack, Otto Piene, and Günther Uecker. Her involvement with these groups further solidified her place within the European avant-garde, allowing her to engage with artists who shared her interest in redefining the boundaries of art. Between 1966 and 1968, Dadamaino embarked on important experiments with color grading and the interferences between colors. This period culminated in her renowned "ricerca del colore" or "exploration of the color" in 1967. In these works, Dadamaino meticulously analyzed the reciprocal effects of color and form, creating a sense of motion that engaged the viewer's perception in profound ways. These experiments were emblematic of her ongoing quest to explore the sensory possibilities of art, blending scientific precision with aesthetic innovation. Dadamaino's contributions to art were recognized with two solo shows at the Venice Biennale in 1980 and 1990, marking her as a leading figure in contemporary art. Her works have been exhibited internationally, including retrospectives at the Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea in Milan, Italy, in 1983, and the Bochum museum in Bochum, Germany, in 2000. Additionally, her art has been featured in significant collections worldwide, such as the GAM in Turin, MART in Rovereto, Museo del Novecento in Milan, Museion in Bolzano, Centre Pompidou in Paris, Tate Modern in London, and the Guggenheim in Venice. Throughout her career, Dadamaino remained deeply influenced by Lucio Fontana and Yves Klein, artists who, like her, sought to transcend the traditional confines of painting and sculpture. Her work is a testament to the power of innovation and the endless possibilities of artistic expression. Dadamaino passed away on April 13, 2004, but her legacy continues to inspire and challenge the conventions of art.

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