The work has been registered by the Associazione Paolo Scheggi with the code number: APSM154/0001.

Provenance: Private collection, Denmark.

Paolo Scheggi exhibited together with Turi Simeti (b. 1929) and Agostino Bonalumi (1935–2013) at the “1. nordiske ungdomsbiennale” (The 1. Nordic Youth Biennale) at Charlottenborg in Denmark in December 1966. The exhibition was organized by the Danish artists Peter Bonnén (b. 1945) and Jens Jørgen Thorsen (1932–2000) amongst others. Paolo Scheggi’s initial and primary connection to Denmark was through the collector, critic and art dealer Finn Falkersby (1934–2007), who brought the works of the three Italians to Denmark and into Danish private collections. Other works by Paolo Scheggi can today be found at the art museums KUNSTEN in Aalborg and HEART in Herning. The latter museum now owns one of the largest collections of works by another significant Italian artist – Piero Manzoni (1933–1963).

Paolo Scheggi’s activity in Denmark is documented - but not very specifically. The above mentioned Finn Falkersby wrote a short, retrospective article on “Gruppe ZERO” and Paolo Scheggi in the Danish periodical CRAS in 1975. He mentions that Scheggi's work received unfavourable reviews when exhibited in Copenhagen in the mid-sixties. He also states that the artist died immediately after having visited Copenhagen in 1971, indicating Scheggi was in Denmark on more occasions.

However, Scheggi's importance was immediately recognized by his contemporary Nordic colleagues (including the Danes Peter Bonnén and Jens Jørgen Thorsen). In the catalogue for the “1. nordiske ungdomsbiennale” (1. Nordic Youth Biennale) tribute is paid to Scheggi, Simeti and Bonalumi. The Danish text reads:

"It is a great pleasure to welcome three representatives of Gruppo Zero’s magnificent work as guests of honour here in Scandinavia. In working with fundamental solutions to the fundamental problems your work will have invaluable importance for many of us. We have seen your work at biennials and major exhibitions. We can do nothing but pay tribute to you and send our greetings to all three of you: Paolo Scheggi, Turi Simeti, Agostino Bonalumi”.

Artist Peter Bonnén (signer of the above statement) and part of the 1966 exhibition commité recently confirmed that Finn Falkersby was Paolo Scheggi’s original connection to Denmark and that Finn Falkersby had introduced Paolo Scheggi’s work to Denmark - also prior to the 1966 exhibition.

Paolo Scheggis “Intersuperficie” works were on the contemporary Italian art scene initially perceived as original and radical - both in relation to the intensity of their colours, the shift from illusion to real space in the work as well as the interaction with the viewer. In the early years - just around the time where this work was made - the somewhat older Lucio Fontana (1899–1968) was Paolo Scheggis’ most important mentor, and in 1962 Fontana wrote, among other things, the following to Scheggi: “Your writing is highly intelligent, like logic. There might be a few differences between you and I, which I consider in your favour; you are a man of your time. I would only like to add that the arts are 'none other' than manifestations of intelligence, the raison d'être of 'man' can have no social evolution without the total evolution of man. I like your anxiety, your profoundly black, red and white paintings; they indicate your thinking, your fear. I cannot help but wish you a 'happy' career, and remind you to be humble, very humble, since to 'time' we are 'nothing'”. Quoted from Luca Massimo Barbero: “The Inimitable Complexity of a Path between Art and Life” IN: “Paolo Scheggi. Catalogue raisonné”, Skira 2016. p. 33.