Is there anybody out there?
“If you wish to understand the Universe, think of energy, frequency and vibration.”
Nikola Tesla
Marius Ritiu’s solo show at DMW Gallery gravitates around Nikola Tesla’s quote, and so does his artistic practice in general. Questioning geographical and mental borders, and celebrating the world in its complexity and ambiguity, the artist seeks to create new points of connection between the immensely varied human experiences. Mainly working with copper, Ritiu builds his practice on the material’s unique physical and philosophical characteristics. A wonderful conductor of energy, copper has been valued and used in various industries throughout the centuries, starting with some of the oldest civilizations on record.
On the occasion of his latest solo exhibition, Ritiu presents an installation made of vibrating copper plates. Reflecting the light, their shiny surfaces operate as a peculiar visualisation of sound waves, while the eerie sound evokes otherworldly connotations. Is there anybody out there? Or is it the artist himself trying to go beyond the limits of human communication and reach the extra-terrestrial? Observing ourselves in the mirror-like surface of copper and shaken up by the disturbing vibrations, we are invited to reflect on our own starting point in relation to the Other.
Ekaterina Vorontsova, Antwerp,
Artists: Marius Ritiu