Continua XXL Online - André Komatsu. Febre do Ouro

André Komatsu is a key exponent of contemporary art by young Brazilian artists. With this edition of Continua XXL Online we present his large installation “Febre do Ouro” 2014. The work came to Galleria Continua / San Gimignano as part of the artist’s first solo show at the gallery.

Extending across the length of the stalls area of the ex-cinema space, the work consists of a series of steel caged structures that interlock and diminish gradually in size, each containing a single hanging light bulb. The viewer can’t help but want to explore the ever-dwindling spaces while being drawn to the constantly increasing brightness of the lamp. This work starts a dialogue on man’s desire for power, the relationship between public and private, and control and isolation.  

Continua XXL Online brings you some of our artists’ biggest projects. With previously unseen content, as well as exclusive insight from both artists and gallerists about their working relationships and production, Continua XXL Online is a comprehensive experience in understanding large installations and artworks.

“Febre do Ouro” sprawled decisively through the Stalls area of Galleria Continua / San Gimignano in 2014. This work by André Komatsu, (b. São Paulo, 1978), is made up of a series of steel structures that entice the viewer in through its progressively diminishing size and increasingly bright lights. Like a series of Matrioshkas, or Russian dolls, the volume of each structure gets gradually smaller and smaller, a part of each one interlocking with its successor.  Komatsu’s chosen materials are often fragments, rubble or abandoned objects. The enclosures here are made up of steel tubes that form 6 modules, covered by wire mesh screens of the same material, expressing the artist’s desire to subvert the values conventionally attributed to materials, and, in a broad sense, to the elements of everyday life. The interaction of the viewer, who enters, travelling further down the succession of structures, having to modify their stature as they go, means a sort of reconstruction in search of new models of existence is exercised. The first large “room” occupies approximately 30m2 of space. The viewer enters this space and sees that in the center there is a 40 Watt lamp, a low power which gives out little light for the dimension of space that surrounds it. Looking down through the installation’s interconnected modules, the visitor sees that as they decrease in size the power of the lamp increases. 
A human desire for power is represented in the physical action of the visitor who carries on passing through the work to reach the smallest space with the brightest  light. It brings up questions surrounding the relationship between public and private, and control and isolation. This relationship between the decreasing room size and increasing wattage automatically brings about a selection among the public, a social hierarchy of who can access these spaces. Akio Aoki, director of Galleria Continua / São Paulo, talks about the work of André Komatsu. 

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