Matrix 2018

Alfred Freddy Krupa painted "Matrix" using the watercolor technique, which is notable because it's unforgiving and doesn't allow for corrections. Krupa was born in Croatia and lived through the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Croatian War of Independence. In "Matrix," the artist merges natural and abstract forms. On the left side of the piece, we see network nodes, while to the right we see a barren tree, which might be read as a stark representation of nature, but also perhaps of the artist's roots. The juxtaposition, or superimposition, of the natural and the digital, gives an emotional weight, an almost existential view on identity, and explores what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world. Krupa’s choice to work with the immediacy of watercolor brings an interesting tension to his exploration of contemporary life, giving "Matrix" a deeply personal and reflective dimension.