Fondazione VOLUME!, Roma

Gregorio Botta, an artist known for his radical essentiality and longstanding use of minimal compositions of both material and immaterial elements, explores in this exhibition the interplay between light and shadow, day and night, through a sensory journey inspired by the mystical verses of La notte oscura by San Giovanni della Croce.

The installation unfolds as an emotional journey beginning in darkness: wax sculptures conceal natural elements like water and fire, evoking mysterious and elusive presences. Shades of gray and black create an atmosphere of introspection and silence, where the forms only partially reveal themselves to the viewer. Gradually, the journey transitions to light, where Botta's works become illuminated, acquiring color and vitality. A voice, that of Sergio Rubini (Bari, 1959), whispers the verses of San Giovanni della Croce, weaving poetry and art into a deep sensory dialogue.

The journey culminates in brightness, in an environment as luminous as dawn, symbolizing the continuous cycle of day and night. It is through this persistent contrast between darkness and light that a profound reflection is offered on inner exploration, spirituality, and the relationship between the visible and the invisible.