Progetto B/V 1973

This is Rodolfo Arico’s Progetto B/V, made with tempera on canvas. The dominant violet rectangle immediately evokes a sense of serenity, a gateway to introspection. Violet, a color often associated with spirituality and transformation, has long been a symbol of mediation between the earthly and the divine, a concept deeply rooted in both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. I am reminded of Yves Klein's use of a single color to evoke infinite space. Arico's violet rectangle is not merely a shape, but a vessel for projecting our own inner worlds. Across cultures, the rectangle symbolizes structure and order, stability and containment. In ancient Egypt, the rectangular cartouche framed royal names, protecting them for eternity, while in Byzantine art, rectangular panels often depicted sacred scenes. Like a dream, this violet form calls to us from the depths of our subconscious. It’s an invitation to reflect on the non-linear evolution of symbols, a journey through art history that circles back to the emotional core of human experience.