Beauty Is What You See (2013-2018)
“When I see the work at the end of a blind performance, the experience is always a bit upsetting
because there is a huge difference between my sensory memory and the result obtained.”
because there is a huge difference between my sensory memory and the result obtained.”
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Excerpt from the exhibition Step Inside The Process, presented in 2014 at Rack Gallery
This series of blind performances is created rather unexpectedly while Olicorno is at his debut with sensory deprivation experimentation. After two full days in utter darkness, he remembers he has his painting equipment close-by and decides to use it just for fun. When he regains his sight the next day, the two small works resulting from this blind experiment do not impress him; but something does surprise him. He realizes that his blind work has essential attributes in its composition such as distance, movement and approximate dosage of color. He instantly sees the potential of this experimental method. You could say that Olicorno blindly pursues this exploration. He completes an entire series of paintings in sensory deprivation, understanding that the blind technique would only continue to be interesting if it remained unpredictable in its execution. He calls his first triptych “Work [# 3] Beauty is What You See”, referring to the discrepancy between his intention to create “beauty” while being blind and the actual result of this intention as perceived by the eye of the non-blind person. At the beginning of each performance, the three primary colors are made available in a manner as to ensure that the artist cannot differentiate one from another. Yellow, red and blue randomly become A, B and C and the trials are afterward calculated algebraically. For example, equation (A + 2B) could very well be indigo or turn out lime green, but according to its position on the color wheel, it would probably be complemented by color (2A + C). Creating a painting this way requires a lot of concentration and memory. After the performance, Olicorno transforms from artist to audience. He can finally look upon his work and consider it in a relatively detached way; as if the work is no longer his. A singular and new object to behold. Uncontrollable. Unique. |
