Eye 2016

Rodrigo Franzao invites us to contemplate sight itself with this sculptural artwork, simply titled 'Eye.' The eye, a potent symbol across cultures, is constructed here with layers that suggest something seen and something that sees. This motif resonates deeply within our collective psyche; the all-seeing eye appears in ancient Egyptian art as the Eye of Horus, and later, as a symbol of divine providence. We see this form echoed through history, adapted and reinterpreted, perhaps losing its explicit religious connotations but retaining its implicit sense of an ever-present gaze. Think of the panopticon, an architectural metaphor for surveillance. This layered construction, coupled with the deliberate breaking and weaving of materials, suggests a complex interplay between visibility and obscurity. It echoes the labyrinthine paths of memory, where clarity and confusion coexist. The emotional intensity of being watched, observed, and judged is embedded in our consciousness, a powerful force engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. The symbol’s journey is not linear, but a cyclical progression, reappearing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.