Viola d’amore 1985

Here we have Aldo Mondino’s 'Viola d’amore', a sculptural odd couple crafted from dark, brooding wood. I wonder what Mondino was thinking as he shaped these forms. They’re like two figures caught in conversation, or maybe a duet about to begin. But the real magic is in their surfaces - the planes and angles catch the light, making you think about geometry, about volume, about the sheer physicality of the wood itself. I imagine he attacked the wood with tools like a sculptor or a construction worker, but with a musician's touch. Artists build on each other's ideas; Mondino seems to nod to the Cubists who were interested in form. Like them, he’s inviting us to see the world in new ways. We’re all in this crazy dance together!