Mariano
Chelo
Art Atelier
Morfè
The Shape of Words Words that describe feelings, moods, situations, and emotions are abstract, yet deeply evocative. In all the languages of the world, these words, though representing the same human experiences, appear in different forms. Many of them are onomatopoeic, and perhaps this explains their particularly distinctive sound. However, just like animal sounds, onomatopoeic words also vary from language to language, showing that no word universally corresponds to the thing it represents. Lately, I’ve started reflecting on a question: What if abstract words had a visual form? From this intuition, an artistic exploration was born. I compiled a list of abstract words, each with its opposite, and began painting a series of works by following the flow of the moment, guided only by an irresistible desire to find chromatic balance. Once the painting was complete, I traced a continuous and uninterrupted line using the dripping technique, applying liquid paint. The result was a series of irregular shapes, born from a gesture of "automatic writing," free from any representational intent. In the next phase, I darkened everything outside the shape created by the dripping, visually isolating it at the center of the composition. The final part of the project is the most experimental and interactive: I invited people to observe the paintings and, drawing from the list of abstract words, match one to each work. The “godparents” of the paintings assign the name they feel is most fitting, based solely on the sensations evoked by the observation. It’s a process similar to a Rorschach test, where each shape becomes a mirror for emotions, intuitions, and personal experiences.