The art of Luca
Zanchi and Valerie Honnart is undoubtedly
a dangerous art. Dangerous because it is
corageous, Dangerous because it is capable of
revealing what western consciousness has repressed: death.
And their thanato-art is pushed to the limits of reason
where it opens up to those non-places of
the origin, the alpha and omega of
existence.
In their journey between mythology and religion, the
artists draw from the source of archetypal
symbology that has the certain merit of
sustaining us along the strenuous road to
enlightenment.At the same time, however, like
empty structures, the symbols are permeated
witth rhe sensitive and original experience of
the two young artists who already possess a well
defined existential and artistic identity.
Moreover, what has
undeniably struck me most,is the wealth of
philosophical references in their work.
Plato writes in letter VII:
(Those who
love pholosophy) work,whatever their
occupation may be, but in all things,
remain
faithful to philosophy, and their daily way
of life, that better than anything will
give them
inward sobriety and therewith a quickness in
learning, a good memory and
reasoning
power. (340d 2-5)
Whoever has mastery over form, is accustomed to reasoning,
can bring intentionality to successful fruition.
But this is not the exclusive prerogatove of the
ancient philosopher: also artists have mastery
over form and render the innermost recesses of
the soul intelligible. It is not by happenstance
that philosophy is born of an intermingling of
ςοφια (wisdom) and
μανία (folly), where
a readiness to welcome the godhead, is the
founding element. And while
ςοφια (wisdom)induces
the artist-philosopher to test
his/her skills, the latter component,
folly, guarantees the “hereafter”, the “ place
beyond”, an
intuition that cannot be given full form. It
is the result of
θαυμαζειν (awe/wonder)
the aristotelian-platonic wonder which drives
man to
search for
his expressive potential.
For this, my
science, is unlike any other: in no way can it
be communicated, but as a kindled flame, it
leaps forward, sudddenly born from the soul
after lengthy argumentation and a long life lived
communally(συνουσία). (341 c5d2)
