ALEX T
M .A .D . G A L L E RY MODA
ARTE
DESIGN
Analisi critica a cura della Dott.ssa Carlotta Biffi Philosophy [nature] is written in that great book which ever is before our eyes -- I mean the universe -- but we cannot understand it if we do not first learn the language and grasp the symbols in which it is written. The book is written in mathematical language, and the symbols are triangles, circles and other geometrical figures, without whose help it is impossible to comprehend a single word of it; without which one wanders in vain through a dark labyrinth. Galileo Galilei
Beauty comes from geometry... does it? The relationship between an ideal conception of beauty and related mathematical proportions shows an heavy background in art history, from the Renaissance researches to the fractal analysis of Jackson Pollock's paintings, from the golden section to Kandinsky's Point And Line To Plane (1926). Times change and art follows its patterns, dealing with traditions or denying them: societies, cultures, meanings and values steadily change, as some reference points still stay the same.
This seems to be the starting point of russian photographer Alex T's analysis of reality, showing without any doubts a deep understanding of our cultural heritage and yet comparing it with the the very special features of our times. In his art, more specifically, geometry is everywhere, as a silent guardian of some kind of mystery. It's a tale as old as time. Since mathematical rules control our world, governing the same working of our body, our reality and our perception, knowing their patterns provides us a key to read reality and, of course, to display it to others. It's the most natural human attitude at work, finding answers to explain the unknown and to order the chaos we are living in. Alex T proposes an idea of beauty which comes from orderliness of geometric rules and at the same time exalts it, making of geometry both the source and the product of his own conception of beauty. It's a neverending research, an attempt to explain the sense of wonder we feel staring at a starry night and trying to find a scheme to turn the stars into constellations. No wonder he refers to its art as similar to the quantum physicist work: “(...) Art is some kind of science, but on a different way. We want to know why, we have many questions about us and about the world, and art is the only way to give an answer on it. But maybe some questions have no answer at all.”
The artist studies nature and its elegance with the eye of a child, asking why for everything and steadily looking for answers. What does really surprise about his work it's the totally not-childish method he uses to complete the research. There's a deep awareness in the Alex T use of forms, coming from a certain knowledge of cultural, psychological and even spiritual implications involved. The constant reminder to the triangle, for example, is fascinating: triangle is not an easy topic in the art world. It's the very core of perception, as Leonardo Da Vinci describes the eye working in terms of a perceptive pyramid; it does have a reliogious meaning, connected to the sacredness of number three; in art it signifies balance and harmony. Let's have a look on Alex T artwork Hyper Pyramid. Not only the whole work is a 1 m x 1 m pyramid, but it's also composed by a serie of mathematically proportioned triangles. This relationship establishes a connection between the whole and every single part composing it, just as a chorus makes sense only with the collaboration of every single member. The interaction of parts, which are specifically featured by different colours, gives to the artwork a deep sense of orderliness, even if other questions are rised: would the whole exist without its members? Are the members meaningless if taken one by one? What would happen increasing the size of the work – which is what the artist is actually working on – giving to every single element the space to show its own individuality? I'll leave the answer to you. Carlotta Biffi
Progetto grafico | Andrea Massucco
MAD GALLERY MILANO – Corso San Gottardo 18 | Milano Curators Alessandra Magni, Carlo Greco
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