Lucio Fontana.
Photo: Wikipedia Commons.

Argentine-Italian artist Lucio Fontana was born just before the turn of the 20th century on February 19, 1899, and passed away in 1968. As destiny would have it, Fontana forged a legacy through the new century with experimental ideas that largely continue to influence artists today. He founded the movement known as Spatialism, inspired the subsequent Arte Povera modern art movement, and appealed to the spirit of innovation in every endeavor.

Fontana’s artistic contributions remind us to think outside the box, and to celebrate his birthday, we’ve compiled seven quotes, on space, change, and even God, to best remember him by.

Lucio Fontana, Concetto spaziale (1960)
Photo: artnet

1. On freedom
“A butterfly in flight stimulates my imagination. By freeing myself from discourse, I loose myself in time and I start making holes.”

Lucio Fontana, Forma (1958)
Photo: artnet

2. On God 
“God is nothing but means everything.”

Lucio Fontana, Concetto Spaziale “Natura 1967” (1967)
Photo: artnet

3. On change
“We are living in the mechanical age. Painted canvas and standing plaster figures no longer have any reason to exist. What is needed is a change in both essence and form. What is needed is the supercession of painting, sculpture, poetry, and music. It is necessary to have an art that is in greater harmony with the needs of the new spirit.”

Lucio Fontana, Concetto Spaziale, Attesa (1960)
Photo: artnet

4. On space
“I do not want to make a painting; I want to open up space, create a new dimension, tie in the cosmos, as it endlessly expands beyond the confining plane of the picture.”

Lucio Fontana, Concetto Spaziale (1957)
Photo: artnet

5. On evolution
“We are continuing the evolution of art.”

Lucio Fontana, Giallo (1951)
Photo: artnet

6. On innovation
“Matter, color, and sound are the phenomena whose simultaneous development is an integral part of the new art.”

Lucio Fontana, Concetto Spaziale Attese (1951)
Photo: artnet

7. On satisfaction
“My discovery was the hole and that’s it. I am happy to go to the grave after such a discovery.”