Exp(l)oration, a homage to the history of human exploration built from reams of adhesive tape
Exp(l)oration, a solo exhibition by No Curves, the Italian artist and international exponent of tape art, has opened to the public at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. The museum has dedicated over 800 m2 of exhibition space to the exhibition, including panels, installations and artworks on the walls and the enormous Toti submarine. It is therefore not merely acting as a "container" for the art, but also reflecting the concept of Exp(l)oration itself: promoting ideas related to human progress and the use of technology to search for undiscovered spaces.
The main theme of the exhibition is exploration as a metaphor for pushing one's own boundaries, a leitmotif that brings together the artist's work and Pixartprinting, which is a partner in this ambitious project. Researching new forms of expression, stepping outside one's comfort zone and focusing on the future are all traits shared by the "tape art philosopher" and the web to print specialist. Pixartprinting is always a step ahead of the rest of the market, offering solutions that anticipate future demand and trends.
The concept behind Exp(l)oration is clear in the portraits of people who dedicated their lives to discovering unknown, distant places: Neil Armstrong, Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, Leonardo Da Vinci, Amelia Earhart and Reinhold Messner, to name but a few. All the works are made using the simple medium of adhesive tape, which is turned into an unusual tool for exploring new visual frontiers. A style made of adjoining lines and angles that fit together, but as one might expect, no curves. "What struck us about No Curves' project is his ability to make the ordinary extraordinary through the use and reinterpretation of an everyday object", said Andrea Pizzola, Sales & Marketing Director at Pixartprinting. "There are many parallels between his approach to art and Pixartprinting's philosophy: indeed, with our online web service, we provide an extraordinary purchasing experience, simplifying our customers' lives with great functionality, competitive prices and a quick turnaround".
Visitors to the exhibition will soon appreciate that No Curves' visual language is the result of a complex work of creation, a play of joins and overlapping colours and textures, with a nod to the digital world and futuristic, transavantgarde art. "No Curves is one of very few artists who use creativity and innovation to shape their art, through unusual and original techniques", Andrea Pizzola added. "And these features also underpin our company's success, which has innovation in its DNA and a creative vocation. We work tirelessly to promote change, making constant improvements throughout the supply chain, from manufacturing and our marketing strategies to research and development and investment in training."
The collaborative partnership with the artist continued throughout every stage of putting the exhibition together: from the preparation and assembly of the staging to the printing of the limited edition monograph that narrates his artistic career. "Our aim has always been to use our experience in printing processes to meet the creative and technical demands of the artist" noted Christian Bonin, R&D and Merchandising Manager at Pixartprinting. "This project also allowed us to show our exploratory side, producing tools that undoubtedly enhanced the range of expressive options at No Curves' disposal". These artistic qualities can be appreciated in person - the public has the opportunity to attend the 'work in progress' performance on the side of the Enrico Toti submarine, the jewel in the crown of the Museum's permanent collection. Using reams of adhesive tape, No Curves is creating a giant mural below the water line of the famous submersible.
You can get a taste for the excitement that awaits visitors to the exhibition in this video filmed on the exhibition's launch day.
