* https://youtu.be/Ii-jO0ubNnw
* https://www.albertoballocca.com/13th-effort/
* https://www.artland.com/artworks/alberto-ballocca-13th-effort

  
13th Effort is a mixedmedia painting on canvas exhibited in New York that recalls to the ancient Greek myth of 12 trials of Hercules.

The twelve trials (in Greek dodekathlos) of Heracles, later Hercules in Roman mythology, are a series of episodes of Greek mythology, later reunited in a single story, which concern the exploits carried out by the hero Heracles to atone for the fact of having made himself guilty of the death of his family.

According to one hypothesis, the cycle of the twelve trials was first established in a lost poem, the Eracleia, written around 600 BC. by Pisander of Rhodes. Currently the labors of Heracles are not present all together in a single text, but must be collected from different sources.

In the metopes of the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, which date back to 450 BC., approximately, there is a famous sculptural representation of it. It may have been precisely the number of these metopes, 12 in fact, that since ancient times led to fixing the traditional number of undertakings at this heroic figure.

A philosophical, moral and allegorical meaning can also be attributed to the superhuman feats of Hercules, often performed with an attitude of defiance towards death, which goes beyond the immediate one of a simple narration of heroic deeds: the figure of Heracles represents a tradition of interior mysticism and the Labors can easily be interpreted as a sort of spiritual journey. The last three Labors of Hercules, in fact, are generally interpreted as a metaphor for death.

"13th Effort"

* https://www.mmmac.it/
* https://www.albertoballocca.com/katagmapaperversion/
* https://youtu.be/4F6LNdDNvGw
* https://www.albertoballocca.com/katagma-canvas-version/

  
Canvas Version of the work on paper entitled 'Kàtagma', part of the private collection of Museo Materiali Minimi d'Arte Contemporanea (MMMAC) of Paestum - Capaccio (SA).

Kàtagma in Greek language means 'fracture', identifyies a clear symbol of opening as well as an inspiration source of some personal meditation about the ancient process of antithesis between 'fysi-nomos'.

This work is inspired by both of these two conceptual dimensions connected to this word, expressed through the unification of different compositional elements such as the red line, the grey wing, the yellow car and the orange background

Kàtagma was born as one of several preparatory sketches made by the artist for a larger canvas based on the same inspirational source and compositional structure, but evolved and concluded as a unique piece.

With the 'Sophistry' movement (2nd half of the 5th century) term Physis (Greek translation of Nature) takes on a political value, giving rise to what is nowadays conventionally defined as the antithesis Physis/Nomos.

The nomos, understood as a positive law of the Polis, thus defines the identity of a population through the structural compendium of habits and customs, becoming distant and often detached from the urban context.

Katagma, this fracture, is that which exists between natural entities (physis) and the so-called western civil laws. (nomos)

  
Museum Quote:

"...It is, then, in this timelapse between the still myokinetic moment of the gesture and the un-considered one of the construction, that lies - not always but often - the only trace of that tiny or corpuscle of the new, the genuine, the authentic, of which we hadn't noticed, but that constitutes the only authentic basis of all our subsequential creations...”

Inquire & Info: INFO@MMMAC.IT - balloccart93@gmail.com

'Kàtagma' x Museo mmac, Paestum - Capaccio

* https://www.albertoballocca.com/geb/

  
Mixedmedia painting made with oil, acrylics and dyes on canvas. This piece presents materical effects on the surface and bold textures that recalls to the vegetal environment and the natural plants and elements.

Geb is inspired by an archaic Egyptian myth and is also a self-portrait of the artist himself.

Geb, or Seb, is an Egyptian deity belonging to the religion of ancient Egypt. He was the god of Earth, in contrast to most other mythologies, for which he is a female personification.

In the Ennead of Heliopolis he is the son of Tefnut, humidity, and Shu, air, and husband of Nut, sky, with whom he had five children.

As time passed, his name became increasingly associated with 'Valley', the habitable land of Egypt, and therefore with vegetation and fertility as well as dominion over animals.

In this way, Geb became a symbol of prosperity, so much so that the succession of a new pharaoh was announced by four wild geese, set free, as a blessing of a long and prosperous reign. In association with the vegetal element, he is sometimes depicted with plants and fruits on his body and with green or black skin, the color of the fertile land of the Nile.

'Geb'

* https://www.albertoballocca.com/katagmapaperversion/
* https://youtu.be/4F6LNdDNvGw
* https://www.mmmac.it/

  
Paper version of the Unique work on paper entitled 'Kàtagma' that is part of the private collection of Museo Materiali Minimi d'Arte Contemporanea (MMMAC) of Paestum - Capaccio (SA).

Kàtagma in Greek language means 'fracture', identifyies a clear symbol of opening as well as an inspiration source of some personal meditation about the ancient process of antithesis between 'fysi-nomos'.

This concept is expressed through the unification of different compositional elements such as the red line, the grey wing, the yellow car and the orange background

Kàtagma was born as one of several preparatory sketches made by the artist for a larger canvas based on the same inspirational source and compositional structure, but evolved and concluded as a unique piece.

With the 'Sophistry' movement (2nd half of the 5th century) term Physis (Greek translation of Nature) takes on a political value, giving rise to what is nowadays conventionally defined as the antithesis Physis/Nomos.

The nomos, understood as a positive law of the Polis, thus defines the identity of a population through the structural compendium of habits and customs, becoming distant and often detached from the urban context.

* Katagma, this fracture, is that which exists between natural entities (physis) and the so-called western civil laws. (nomos)

'Kàtagma'

Displaying ancient knowledge and natural awareness with Colonna Contemporary Gallery - 4 Louella Ct, Wayne PA, 19087\. 484.793.5114 SUN - MON by Appt.

  
* https://www.albertoballocca.com/island-of-pun-project/
* https://www.colonnacontemporary.com/alberto-ballocca
  
  
_"Alberto Ballocca's 'Island of Pun' series has landed. Alberto Ballocca (b. 1993 - Turin, Italy) is a contemporary artist whose background is linked to sensitive factors. Before the beginning of his activity and artistic career, Alberto self-developed an interest in ancient and archaic cultures, roots of the contemporary world of arts, philosophies, and the natural dimension, specifically the natural corporal approach of life: The ancient Greek concept of "Physis." The Turin-based artist is a true bridge between the past and the future. Firmly planted in the classics aesthetic as seen by the heavy presence of Egyptian symbolism (Turin holds the second largest and most important collection of Egyptian artifacts after Il Cairo) and in his work, the approach and execution is completely modern and innovative, while recalls the archaic imaginary. Collecting these works is collecting the entire creative process as each piece comes with its related body of supporting works (sketches, drawings, painting studies etc). A treasure trove of collectible material. Given the extensive material per each work, we suggest viewing this body of work by appointment as it allows us to prepare the presentation."_

\-----------------

\- Contacts & Inquiries : balloccart93@gmai.com or michele@colonnacontemporary.com

Island of Pun Project Highlihts and behind the scenes.

* Single edition archival print on Hahnemuhle PhotoRag 305 GMS Fine Art Paper - 'Island of Pun Project'.
* This artwork comes with all the digital and graphite sketches and drafts related to the compositional procedure.

  
For sale via Colonna Contemporary Gallery 

* https://www.artnet.com/artists/alberto-ballocca/two-sparks-a-j0UnAJjcMAp\_wGzm8YEnqQ2
* https://www.albertoballocca.com/two-sparks/

  
> _Signed on the front by the both with conventional alphabetic syntax and hieroglyphs._

> _"Two reigns as Two Sparks" -_ This artwork is inspired by the Sema-tauy symbol (or sma-taui, or sema knot) that is an ancient Egyptian symbol composed of the intertwining of two plants linked to a sign representing the trachea and arteries.Lotus flower (_typical of Upper Egypt_) and the Papyrus (_typical of Lower Egypt)_. This ancient symbol clearly alludes to the event of unification of the two reigns of ancient Egypt under the same power. In royal statuary, this symbol was placed on one of the sides of the cubic throne of the sovereign and sometimes it was also imprinted on an amulet placed on the body of the deceased, signifying the eternal integrity of the body even after death.

'Two Sparks'

  
🎨 Orama Project: https://www.albertoballocca.com/orama-2/

🎨 Artist official website: https://www.albertoballocca.com/

🎨 Subscribe! 

* 🔗Get in touch with me: https://www.albertoballocca.com/contacts/

  
_"Series of five works of art through which the artist investigates natural powers and their relationships between humanity and the divine. In this way, the profound bond that links human destiny to natural enviroment is revealed - "Orama, In Greek language, means 'vision' and through this project, Alberto developed five mixedmedia works inspired by ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures mixed with his naturalistic vision of the world."_ 

  
"This body of work implement painting, drawing, photography and digital collages through which the artist investigated atavistic powers of Nature in Its archaic relations between human body and natural patterns, accordingly to different primordial Greek and Egyptian natural conceptions.

From the Greek philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, in accordance to the still unsupervised antithesis 'nomos/fysi' (mankind/nature), the necessity of this awareness represented by the concept of 'Ananke' and how this awareness starts to be perceived from and within our bodies, as a thin and sensorial perception, to the unconventional approach of the software usage for the final rendering of natural patterns." 
  
  

Orama Project Highlights

Glichee print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 305 gms fine art paper - Photography, digital rendering , digital collage, signed on the front

Aristotles invented word physiologists ( ‘fysi / physis / fysis’ ) to identify people that used to contemplate Nature aimed to propose and construct the first legislative forms of politics in the ancient Athens city, and through the relation nature, body, soul, nature has been initially called “**Physis”**. Organic body and our way of act as the first sign of soul existence.

Life motion define my ‘Physis’. Vision of Nature that brings me to my body awareness; **soul** and body are the same thing, and are not disconnected as every organ is linked within the other one and allows me to **breath**.

* https://www.albertoballocca.com/orama-2/

'Physis'

13th Effort is a powerful mixedmedia canvas I made back in 2021; mixture of the charcoal drawing of the sculpture of Giambologna 'Ercole e Il Centauro Nesso' in Florence, preserved in the Loggia dei Lanzi united with wall-enamels, natural pigments, acrylics, collages, sprays, synthetic paint and manual collages that generates compositional effects aimed to add on the timeline a non-existing part to the classical Greek myth of the 12 efforts of the hero Hercules. The 13th one. 

  
The Greek hero who, together with Achilles, favored the creation of the model of the warrior par excellence, had to overcome 12 absurd and humiliating efforts to redeem himself from madness, but the story of the son of Zeus does not end positively. An homage to the ancient and powerful Greek mythology, 13th Effort, draws your attention to the sense of courage in life in general, adding a new philosophical bridge to the mythological description of courage, deeply conceived.

'13th Effort' Overview

_"Hiero and glyphs are two separated words that generate that one we use to indicate the vast, complex and fascinating ancient Egyptian language mechanism and world, but, what does these two separate words can \*accidentally mean, within more analytical and contemporary terms?"_

This work is inspired by the figure of the ancient Egyptian scribes, responsible for the hieroglyphic transcriptions on behalf of the pharaoh and the ruling royal courts.

  
* https://www.albertoballocca.com/the-scribe/

"The Scribe"

Nature is mother of no one, but of what surrounds human species in term of everything we can experience, human species included, which means that he does not perceived it as a figure to '\*whom to refer to', in order to protect oneself or to cradle some 'romantic' thoughts, because Nature is an immutable background that no man nor any god made.

  
* https://www.albertoballocca.com/sacred-roots/

'Sacred Roots'

_"Ancient Egyptians believed that a man's memory was tied more to the things he had written than to the monuments he had erected. Phoenicians and Greeks knew how to demonstrate this belief. Every block of historical traces we learn to unfold linguistic processes and evolution are sublimated within every medium I used to perfom Alef."_

This sculpture is inspired by the evolutionary process behind the birth of the letter A.

Phoenicials traced the head of the ox, which they pronounced 'Alef'.

With the Greeks, Alef became written, but in 'Alpha', with another well-known sign and nowadays, in the alphabet we all know, we use and write A letter as it is the first one of the word Alef..

* https://www.albertoballocca.com/sculptures/

"Alef"

Semi-abstract composition performed on canvas inspired by the Egyptian myth of Sokaris and its symbol, the onion.

The Onion is the only vegetable capable of living underground, on the ground or in the open air, on a stem: all characteristics that evoked the potentialities of the god Sokar so this composition presents a series of symbolic elements that recall to the shape of an onion near to the hieroglyphic inscription of Sokaris.

* https://www.albertoballocca.com/onion/

"Onion" 

Jinzo is a japanese term meaning 'made by humans'. This work has been created without any external references. Jinzo's headgear represents the protection of the intellect: elements that make up his body are ferrous and electronic scraps taken from my father's workshop who is a craftsman.

* https://www.albertoballocca.com/jinzo/

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Alberto Ballocca