Canvas 80×100 cm, linen, oil, 2026
The central painting of the triptych “Calabria Sentiente”
The Breath of the Earth
This is the heart of the triptych — what breathes between the beginning and the end.
Water is arranged in tiers: a stepped stone basin and a fine stream that flows from the upper reservoir to the lower one. Not a waterfall — a breath. In the center, on a pedestal, stand a man and a woman. They emerge from the water as if born by it. His torso is turned towards her in a calm strength. Her right hand is raised to her hair — a gesture of pure, frozen grace. In her facial features, there is not only eternity but also a living, almost earthly expressiveness.
Above them hovers a sign of infinity, woven from golden light. From it radiate translucent rays that touch shoulders, flow around figures, merging with the golden drapery. This is a blessing, a memory, and a promise — all at once.
Behind them are the soft hills of Calabria, terraced fields, and the sea that breaks the mountain range with a gentle coastline. To the right rises an ancient column — the axis of the world. To the left is a stone base and a bush reminiscent of an olive tree. In the lower right corner, a smaller column is entwined with white flowers that hang down to the water.
In the lower pool floats a red flower with needle-like petals. The only bright spot in the entire olive-golden palette. Not an ornament — a key. The red pepper that wanders through all parts of the triptych has turned into a flower here. The same blood of the earth. The same talisman.
The painting is built on glazes. The golden rays are a thin, translucent layer over the landscape: not so much paint as breath. Each layer, from the first sketch to the last gleam, is preserved by the Dorsal Capture method — like a record of the breath of the earth that flowed through the artist’s hands.
Here time does not move. Two figures stand at the center of the world, and above them — infinity. A breath that has always been here. It was just waiting to be made visible.