BAD INFINITY 2020

Editor: So this is Sergio Mario Illuminato's "BAD INFINITY," created in 2020. It has such a layered effect, a kind of weathered quality. What really strikes me is how the texture interacts with the light. What’s your take on this work? Curator: I see a meticulous investigation of materiality. The artist's layering and distressing of the paint isn't just aesthetic. It's about exposing the raw processes of creation and decay, mimicking geological formations, possibly reflecting upon our own consumption patterns that generate this decay on the natural world. It seems more of a critical investigation of the surface than a simple desire to emulate “natural stone pattern”. Does the title perhaps reflect an awareness of these issues? Editor: Interesting. It didn't occur to me, but yes, the title might suggest commentary on ecological damage as a symptom of endless material production. Is that brown we’re seeing another layer of paint, or perhaps the material of the support itself? Curator: I think the brown is key. It serves as a base, a ground from which the blue emerges. It may indeed be part of the support peeking through; in doing so it subverts traditional high art where the supports, stretchers, are supposedly invisible. I’m drawn to how the textures and subtle color shifts force us to consider the labor involved. Was this rapid, gestural painting or painstakingly constructed? Editor: Now that you point that out, it does make you wonder about the time and physical effort invested in its making. I appreciate that it's prompting these types of considerations, how artistic creation reflects labour. Curator: Exactly! We're invited to ponder the human element within this object. I like this questioning of 'nature' vs manmade. Editor: Well, I’ll certainly be looking at abstract paintings with more material awareness now. It changes how I value the artwork itself, knowing the artist's awareness and our impact on nature through materials. Curator: Agreed! Shifting the focus to the “how” and “why” of creation opens up a world of possibilities for appreciating and understanding art.