The Forms of Contrasts
Posted on August 03 2021
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Author Silvia Colombo
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Contrasts │ 13 July - 10 August 2021
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“How could they see anything but the shadows if they
were never allowed to move their heads?” - Plato
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In the aforementioned quote taken from the “Allegory of the cave”, Plato introduced the existence of different, opposite dimensions already during the VI century b.C. By comparing contrasting worlds, the Greek philosopher wanted to state a polarisation between the education and the lack of it - metaphorically speaking, between lights and shadows.
Centuries later, within a historical and social context that has been changed and revolutionised several times, it is interesting to see how the artists, reflecting around the concept of “contrasts”, have raised and paid attention to the same, visual ideas.
Walking through Spazio Millepiani’s rooms, where the group exhibition “Contrasts” is set, it is remarkable realising that one of the main traits d'union bridging the digital, photo and video works exhibited is the dominant presence of the black and white palette. Aesthetically, this serves as a starting flair able to capture our look while passing by the pieces as well as to open the show to questions, ideas, and suggestions…
Literally, the contrast here is made by counterposing tones and different degrees of lights (and shadows). But other interpretations and variations are very much possible, as the exhibition itself proves.
Centuries later, within a historical and social context that has been changed and revolutionised several times, it is interesting to see how the artists, reflecting around the concept of “contrasts”, have raised and paid attention to the same, visual ideas.
Walking through Spazio Millepiani’s rooms, where the group exhibition “Contrasts” is set, it is remarkable realising that one of the main traits d'union bridging the digital, photo and video works exhibited is the dominant presence of the black and white palette. Aesthetically, this serves as a starting flair able to capture our look while passing by the pieces as well as to open the show to questions, ideas, and suggestions…
Literally, the contrast here is made by counterposing tones and different degrees of lights (and shadows). But other interpretations and variations are very much possible, as the exhibition itself proves.
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In fact, dualities can be potentially found in everyone and everything we know and we are surrounded by. And the artists show that in every fragment, in every shot and in every single image they have produced for this exhibition. Contrasts can be conceived both in terms of space and time, but either as tangible items and intangible concepts.
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Kristina Shakht, New York Lockdown, 2020
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Bodies, for example, when closely portrayed can suddenly become poetic surfaces - a pair of legs is transformed into a series of soft lines crossing the whole picture, while a back against a wall creates harmonic intersections between curved and flat contours. This is just considering the most immediate impression we get from this association. On another level, bodies can be interpreted as a metaphor for physical but even for emotional intimacy or - in contrast - distance. Our intimate self relates with our own body and at the same time with the people we know or with those we randomly meet. Alternatively, once our body parts are visually compared with machines and mechanical tools, they embody the contraposition between human and artificial intelligence. The neverending battle between humans and machines, a contrast that stretches from the past to the future.
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This is another line the exhibition “Contrasts”' pursues: the one connecting yesterday, today and tomorrow in a continuum that never ends. When the world began, contrasting elements were already there, just expecting to be found. Earth, fire, water and air - the beginning and the end - the good and the bad - the yin and the yang. The list of paradoxes and contrasts can go on and on, forever - everyone knows that. So in order to fully understand the soul of this show we just need to find out, learn, go through and embrace all these contrasts, becoming aware of what we are.
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Nadide Goksun, Selin, 2021
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Yuliana Paranko, The Touch, 2019
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Mandy Weiss, Mona's Boredom, 2021
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Keegan Baatz, Badlands Shadows, 2020
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Alexa Telano, Self Portrait in my Childhood Room, 2019 / Helen Zheng, Mystique, 2018
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