OLTRE

Beyond … from the series City Sphere Corvetto – 185×270 cm – 2024 – mixed technique on linen

I challenge the public to experience the urban soul and discover a deeper connection with the cities we call home. Let’s create cities together. – Baukje Spaltro

Since 2015, I have worked on my City Spheres project, inspired by the concept of ‘genius loci’ (the Roman idea of the spirit of a place) and philosopher Peter Sloterdijk’s musings. Through paintings, I redefine a city as a dynamic, self-constructed local society, where every urban district has a unique soul waiting to be unveiled. My work is not an exploration of urban landscapes; it’s a contemplation of the evolving relationship between individuals and their surroundings. With a spartan yet conversational tone, I communicate directly with the observer, inviting them to reflect on the intricate tapestry of city life often overlooked in the hustle and bustle. The moment, the place, and the interplay of natural light become pivotal elements. The result is a mesmerizing symphony of fluorescent and tonal colors dancing on my canvases, creating a visual language that speaks directly to the observer’s intuition. Color reveals the soul of a district. I paint the sensed atmosphere and feeling of the urban areas I temporarily live in instead of the real, physical picture of each city. My deliberate use of fluorescent surfaces creates a space on the canvas that disrupts conventional thinking. These heightened colors strongly influence the perception of my work, challenging viewers to engage in a more heart-based attitude towards their surroundings.

Since 2022, I have worked on my tenth series City Sphere Corvetto, about the genius loci of the Corvetto district in Milan, Italy. Nowadays, the urban identity of European city areas is threatened by plans and gentrification. With my work, I create awareness of the sense of a place and its relation to the input of local people. The people are the cement of the city; they create the soul, the genius loci of a neighborhood.

This Corvetto series is accompanied by my City Sphere Manifesto:

THE ARTISTS VIEW as an invitation into the irrational space of a sphere.

THE GENIUS LOCI is the local identity of an urban space.

FLUORESCENT COLORS influence our perception of urban identity.

MORE AWARENESS about an urban space.

THE VALUE of visual art combined with social intelligence for inclusive cities

Click om the photograph to see the studio works of City Sphere Corvetto

“The arts offer a unique means of connecting us to our common humanity. Whether visual, musical, dramatic, or literary, the arts allow us to “create together” and to discover shared understandings. The creation and presentation of art often inspires a raft of civically valuable dispositions – trust, openness, honesty, cooperativeness, tolerance, and respect. From museums to open-air amphitheaters to dance studios, arts spaces are, at root, civic spaces. The arts are a superb means of building social capital….”

Czech president Vaclav Havel