Valentina 2007

Camilla d'Errico made Valentina sometime in the 20th century, and just look at the thing, hanging there in space, suspended in motion. I can imagine her wrestling with gravity, trying to make something weightless out of material stuff, the black and red lines doing a dance in front of our eyes. You know, when I look at this piece, I think about the sheer audacity of painting, the way it can trick you into seeing something that isn't really there. I can imagine Camilla, in her studio, turning this thing around and around, trying to get the balance just right. It's a delicate dance, isn't it, between intention and accident? The red square feels a bit like a heartbeat, pulsing with energy, while the black seems to hold everything in place. It reminds me of some of the early constructivist sculptures, but with a playful, almost cartoonish edge. Artists are magpies, always borrowing and stealing from each other, trying to make something new out of the old. It’s a testament to the power of art.