Viola d’amore 1985

Aldo Mondino made these 'Viola d’amore' sculptures with what looks like a pretty physical process. The dark, almost black color, gives them a somber yet solid feel, like they’ve been absorbing sound, maybe even love itself, for years. The way Mondino’s worked the material is interesting. You can see the marks of the tools, each cut and join exposed, not hidden. This feels so honest, so much about the act of making. And that texture! It’s rough, imperfect, inviting you to touch and feel the history of its creation. Looking at the angular cuts, especially on the body of the left Viola, I see a real confidence, a willingness to let the material speak. I’m reminded a little of Louise Nevelson’s dark, wooden sculptures, but Mondino has his own voice, a kind of playful seriousness. Ultimately, these sculptures celebrate the journey of creation, reminding us that art isn’t about perfection, but about process, feeling, and exchange.