ART-TRIBUTE:Proportio, Venice

According to Plato, the definition of proportion is the transition from duality to unity. It’s the investigation of how elements and patterns are connected and interconnected across disciplines. What was known? How was this knowledge used in the past? How can it help us to understand the world around us today? As an exhibition, the aim of “Proportio” is to re-start a contemporary dialogue surrounding the lost knowledge of proportions and sacred geometry.

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Axel & May Vervoordt Foundation Archive

The exhibition examines the role that proportion plays in our lives and the complex universe in which we live. By examining wide-ranging and diverse representations found in art, nature, physics, economics, history, science, music, medicine, and many other subjects, the study of proportion uncovers the natural patterns that are used to create everything in the material world. Proportion is not only a question of numbers. Nor is it a simple comparison of measurements and dimensions in relation to a whole. It’s the investigation of how elements and patterns are connected and interconnected across disciplines. It’s the investigation of how we, as humans, perceive those patterns through our senses, as well as through our intuition. Throughout the course of known human history, the knowledge of proportions and sacred geometry in particular, has been applied across many civilizations for thousands of years. The sophisticated knowledge of sacred geometry, especially the golden ratio, was considered highly advanced and closely related to secretive spiritual wisdom and religious traditions. As a result, its use was controlled, because it was thought that it’s misuse might have undesirable consequences. The exhibition contains a large number of artworks, ranging from: masterpieces of antiquity, runs around the 20th century… until today. Among other features works by: Marina Abramovic, Carla Accardi, Carl Andre, Alighiero Boetti, Luciano Fabro, Alberto Giacometti, Robert Indiana, Ilya et Emilia Kabakov, Anish Kapoor, Ellsworth Kelly, William Kentridge, Anselm Kiefer,Le Corbusier, Sol Lewitt, Richard Long, Brice Marden, Agnes Martin, Richard Meier, Marisa Merz, Mario Merz, Amedeo Modigliani, Shirin Neshat, Takis, Antoni Tàpies, Victor Vasarely, Bill Viola, Rachel Whiteread, e.c.t.

Info: “Proportio”, Curating: Axel Vervoordt & Daniela Ferretti, Palazzo Fortuny, San Marco 3780-San Beneto, Venice, Duration: 9/5-22/11/15, Days & Hours: Fri-Wed: 10:00-18:00, www.axel-vervoordt.com