Natura Exp24 2018

Alfio Giuffrida's "Natura Exp24" presents a fascinating interplay between natural and manufactured elements, rendered in what appears to be acrylic on canvas. The flat application of the blocks of color is striking, calling to mind industrial processes of printing and reproduction. The contrast of the textured orange masses with the smooth blue and precise lines creates an intriguing tension, hinting at the uneasy relationship between our lived environment and manufactured surroundings. Giuffrida's mark-making is very deliberate, and you might ask yourself how the application of flat color in the design industry differs from the application of flat color here. The composition also seems deliberately off-kilter, creating a sense of unease, and mirroring the tensions between nature and artifice. Ultimately, the work invites us to reconsider our relationship with the natural world, prompting questions about labor, production, and the environmental impact of contemporary society, challenging the boundaries between art, design, and social commentary.