Seeds of Change 128

Salvatore Matteo

36” x 40”

Acrylic, archival paper, graphite, strings, barbwire on wood board,

In Seeds of Change 128, Salvatore Matteo continues his exploration of balance, perception, and collective consciousness through intricately layered paper relief. Cut, curled, and suspended from a precisely drawn foundation, the pure-white paper forms unfold in sweeping arcs and measured spirals, hovering between drawing, sculpture, and architectural model. Light activates the work, casting soft shadows that animate the surface and extend the composition into surrounding space, allowing the piece to evolve throughout the day.

At the core of Matteo’s practice is a dialogue between the circle and the square, archetypes that have shaped visual culture from ancient sacred geometry to modern abstraction. The circle represents intuition, emotion, and the fluidity of human experience, while the square embodies logic, structure, and rational order. In Seeds of Change 128, these forms propose harmony as an active state achieved through equilibrium. Matteo’s mandala-like construction positions balance as both a personal and societal necessity.

The work is reminiscent of Constructivist reliefs, the spatial investigations of Naum Gabo, and the spiritual minimalism of Agnes Martin. Matteo extends these traditions through the vulnerability of paper, a medium that emphasizes impermanence and fragility. Embedded within the elegance of the form are barbed wire, razors, and taut springs that acknowledge the violence, injustice, and psychological pressures embedded in contemporary life.

Presented as part of Mash Gallery’s group exhibition Rhythmic Contours, Seeds of Change 128 interprets rhythm through repetition, curvature, and pause. The viewer’s eye follows the flow of paper lines as they rise and return, experiencing rhythm as a meditative cycle shaped by light and shadow rather than fixed pattern.

Seeds of Change 128 offers a philosophical proposition that meaningful change begins with balance and that art can serve as a quiet catalyst for that transformation.

razor blade with signature