Profondo è il mare (Deep is the Sea)

As an Italian artist living in Berlin, I often find myself reflecting on the connections between tradition and modernity. This artwork was inspired by two significant moments during a recent trip to Italy. At my brother’s company (he’s an engineer) I noticed electronic circuits printed on fabric, forming a striking silver decoration. Later, while visiting a church with my children, I was drawn to a statue of the Madonna with a halo of golden stars. These two contrasting images—technology and spirituality—sparked the idea for this piece, blending the traditional and the modern.

I hope viewers will reflect on the evolving relationship between technology and spirituality. How might technological progress and artificial intelligence influence our spiritual imagination? Could these advancements open the door to concepts like a “digital God”? I want this work to evoke curiosity and encourage contemplation about how the sacred and the technological can coexist or intertwine in unexpected ways.

I chose to work on canvas to challenge myself with a transition from smaller paper sketches to a larger, more expressive format. The subject matter—a portrait emerging from shadows—reflects a dialogue between light and darkness, both visually and conceptually. I experimented with this style to explore contrasts: the precision of technology versus the organic, timeless beauty of spiritual symbols. Despite a few procedural errors, the strength of the portrait comes through, which was the outcome I envisioned.