Japanese Queen

Japanese Queen by the Italian-born South African artist Armando Baldinelli (1908-2002). The work was created in 1966 from panel, wood, acrylic and parts of a car wreck. In the 1960s Baldinelli moved from more religious themed work to these assemblages. He found these pieces of metal he incorporated in the work on a scrap yard as he claimed “they retained the aura of their violent ending”, as he himself came to South Africa due to a violent car crash in which his family was killed. Short Biography: Armando Baldinelli was born in Ancona Italy in 1908. He studied at the Academy of Fine Art in Rome from 1925-1928. In 1950 his wife Gianna died at age 26 in a car crash and he became withdrawn. A friend that was managing the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg suggested that he visit South Africa which he did in 1953. He built his studio in Oaklands Johannesburg where he lived until he passed away in 2002.