Ex acto, 1967

Archive number

GPO-0133

Technique

Perforated plexiglas sheets

Dimensions

140 x 121 cm (three parts 70 x 121 cm each)

Collection

Renata Novarese Collection, Moransengo (Asti)

Description

The act of achieving a perfect balance (“ex acto”) between three overlapping plexiglas sheets – each of which has a hole so that it can be hung from the same place on the wall – creates a hexagonal ("exact") figure.
A smaller version of the work was made in the same year in an edition of at least seven (GPO-0134).

Exhibitions

1968	Turin, Galleria Notizie, Giulio Paolini, 10 April - 2 May, cited in the checklist of exhibited works, repr.
1992-93	Paris, Galerie Di Meo, Giulio Paolini. Œuvres de 1963 à 1978, 27 November 1992 - 30 January 1993, cited in the checklist of exhibited works no. 11 p. 66, repr. p. 35.
2002	Siena, Palazzo delle Papesse, Centro Arte Contemporanea, De Gustibus. Collezione privata Italia, 3 March - 12 May, repr. p. 236.
2003	Milan, Fondazione Prada, Giulio Paolini 1960-1972, 29 October - 18 December, cited in the checklist of exhibited works p. 401, repr. p. 279.

Bibliography

•	G. Celant, Giulio Paolini (New York: Sonnabend Press, 1972), p. 56, repr. no. 53 p. 55; republished in Giulio Paolini 1960-1972, edited by Id. (Milan: Fondazione Prada, 2003), p. 188; reprint (Cinisello Balsamo: Silvana Editoriale, 2019).
•	G. Paolini, Idem (Turin: Giulio Einaudi editore, 1975), repr. p. 28; new edition (Milan: Electa, 2023), repr. p. 54..
•	M. Fagiolo, “Glossario”, in Giulio Paolini (Parma: Università di Parma, Centro Studi e Archivio della Comunicazione, 1976), p. 25, repr. no. 75.
•	Giulio Paolini, vol. Images/Index (Villeurbanne: Le Nouveau Musée, 1984), repr. p. 41.
•	G. Paolini, Suspense. Breve storia del vuoto in tredici stanze (Florence: Hopeful Monster editore, 1988), repr. p. 248.
•	Giulio Paolini. Von heute bis gestern / Da oggi a ieri, exhibition catalogue, Graz, Neue Galerie im Landesmuseum Joanneum (Ostfildern-Ruit: Cantz Verlag, 1998), repr. p. 221.
•	M. Bandini, M.C. Mundici, M.T. Roberto, Luciano Pistoi: "inseguo un mio disegno" (Turin: Hopefulmonster editore, 2008), repr. p. 191 (reproduction of a page from the brochure for the solo show at Galleria Notizie, Turin, 1968).
•	M. Disch, Giulio Paolini. Catalogo ragionato 1960-1999, vol. 1 (Milan: Skira editore, 2008), cat. no. 133 p. 155, col. repr.

Entry by Maddalena Disch, 30/01/2026