Curatorial notes
James Licini made this Untitled sculpture of stacked geometric forms in an unknown time, from an unknown material. The interplay of light and shadow across the surfaces transforms these rigid blocks into something more fluid. You can see, especially on the overhanging block, the marks and patinas that hint at process, like tool marks. It’s not pristine. It feels made. The real magic of this piece lies in its simplicity. Licini makes these basic geometric forms almost dance. The arrangement of the blocks creates a sense of tension, of balance, and imbalance. There’s something playful in its construction, reminding me of children's blocks. Maybe it's just me, but I can see some kind of melancholic, elemental, totemic quality to it. It feels like a quiet conversation with early modernist sculptors like Brancusi, who distilled form to its essence. Art is always an exchange, and this piece really speaks to the ongoing dialogue of form and material.