PANELS (2023)

The meticulously hand-carved wooden panels evoke a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of antique frames, invoking a connection to the opulent Venetian baroque aesthetic. This particular project, which underscores a historical juncture where dominion was initially established, is directly linked to the monumental installation presented at the Venice Biennale of 2024.

The symbolism and iconography embedded within these intricately crafted wooden pieces engender a discourse bridging the chasm between the era of dinosaurs and the advent of Homo sapiens. Within these compositions, narratives emerge depicting humans engaging with dinosaurs, both as subjects of hunt and as improbable companions. This artistic endeavor assumes a satirical dimension, encapsulated by the substitution of the ubiquitous all-seeing eye of God with the discerning gaze of a dinosaur – a singular instance exemplifying such wit.

The lavish Baroque stylistic elements, adorned with the resplendence of 22 carat gold and encircled by gracefully undulating floral embellishments, resonate with the aesthetic ethos of the 17th-century Vanitas motif. Executed through the arduous process of manual wood carving and subsequently hand-painted, the artist employs a deliberate interplay between the past and the present in these compositions. This dynamic is accentuated by the juxtaposition of vibrant, freshly applied hues that starkly contrast the somber tones emblematic of the classical Baroque framework. This juxtaposition becomes an artistic means through which the thematic duality of past and present is both explored and accentuated.