Enrico Magnani

The Supernova Dark Matter series echoes the contents of the first Supernova series that transforms stellar death into spiritual rebirth, where physics and mysticism meet. The precision of circles, triangles and crosses dialogues with explosions of color, revealing how cosmic destruction generates the elements of life - a visual hymn to the alchemy of existence.

Added to this here is the profound significance related to Dark Matter, metaphorically represented by Magnani with phosphorescent pigments. The phosphorescent pigment is present in the work, but it remains invisible in ordinary light conditions manifesting itself only in darkness. Looking at the work illuminated, one has the impression of having grasped it completely, but changing the conditions - removing the light - one perceives something unexpected and completely new: a phosphorescent luminscence. The analogy with Dark Matter is pertinent: phosphorescent matter is indeed present (in the work of art), but it cannot be seen, except under certain conditions. We too are surrounded by Dark Matter, but we do not perceive it. It will be up to science to find those certain conditions to identify it, leading us to discover a new way of looking at the world.

The technique

The technique used to make the Supernova series was also used to make the “Supernova Dark Matter” collection. The artist exploits the effects of fluid dynamics without touching the work with his hands, or with brushes, or other tools; each stage of creation takes place at a distance. The multilayer panel of paper and aluminum is immersed horizontally under a veil of water. Operating from the center and employing centrifugal force, jets of water and air move the pigments previously released by the artist onto the support. This original technique is inspired by and attempts to reproduce, with all its limitations, the dynamics of the stellar explosion: the work thus created is very similar to images captured through large telescopes. The Dark Matter seriescontains a background of phosphorescent pigment that glows in the dark, allowing the light emitted to filter through the lighter areas of normal pigment and creating, on an optical level, a new work of art that is completely different from the first.