Artist Gabriel Dawe is showing his incredible new installation that just opened to the public last October 6 in Como, Italy. As part of Miniartextil, an annual exhibition of contemporary art, Dawe created Plexus no. 19, a stunning thread installation that’s beautifully spread across two balconies in the atrium of a historic villa. The early 19th century neoclassic house, called Villa Olmo, was acquired in 1924 by the municipality of Como and is now open to the public only during cultural events and art exhibitions like this.
This year’s Miniartextil exhibition is called Agora, taking from the Greek word that describes an important public place where people come to share ideas. The visitor is invited to not just look at the artwork but to be actively involved in it. Plexus no. 19 consists of two thread structures streamed across an upper and lower balcony that is meant to be experienced from different angles or at different times of the day. As Dawe tells us, “When the sun comes in in the morning, it is fantastic. Having those window-shaped light beams add a dimension to the installation. I always like when I get direct sunshine on them because it emphasizes the layering of the thread in very interesting ways.”
With two assistants, Dawe constructed this installation in about a week. His greatest challenge was working to the confines of the space. “Because of the historic nature of the building, I wasn’t able to touch ceiling, walls or floors to screw in my structures,” he says. “So I resorted to fixing them to the railings, which in great measure restricted what I was able to do. In the end, it worked out pretty well; it really exceeded my expectations how well the installation inhabits the space.”
The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Dolly Parton
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I love this. wow! Its so subtle, like a photographic effect. Wonder what its like up close?
Awesome!!
I’m generally not a fan of installation art but this would be an exception. Nice shots.
love it. love the new look chicquero!
holy crowly! That is the most awesome thing I’ve seen in a long time.
Very nice. Some of them seem to be an evolved Escher, an almost optical illusion. The use of color, Escher was black and white. In these the use of beauty of curve and richness. Sometimes I think the architectural image would be enough it itself. Escher was a draftsman, his images sharp and angular and impossible. What we see here it is not only possible, it has been done, it’s real . . . and then again it isn’t . . . quite. I think these are very good. Nice work. Two of them really held me.
Hi Bruce, how are you?
I completely agree with you, Escher is brilliant and beautifully geometric!! The architecture is quite fabulous too, it adds a whole new perspective to his artwork.
Thank you
I agree with mobius faith, this is an amazing exception… exquisite pics as well
Reblogged this on Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay and commented:
This is glorious.
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