SANDRO TOMASSINI
the art carousel
The Art Carousel
The Art Carousel is a project conceived and created by Sandro Tomassini. It is an interactive artistic path designed for everyone alike, adults, young people and children, with special attention towards those with visual disabilities. Finally art that can be touched! Indeed, it is necessary to touch so the user can interact with it according to the whim of the moment. Why Art Carousel? As children we all rode on a carousel where we passed from a horse to a carriage, from a car to a motorbike, imagining and dreaming. There is always the child we once were inside of us and on this occasion we can pass from one work of art to another, having fun and dreaming a little because Sandro Tomassini’s works have a strong playful and didactic component. They are mechanisms that activate the processes of our fantasy and creativity. In conclusion this path is a bit like a Carousel also because it is itinerant, it moves from one place to another. Sandro’s idea and dream is to propose the interactive artistic path in other important Italian towns and cities.
The interactive artistic path called The Art Carousel was set up in the studio of artist Sandro Tomassini, in Terni at Largo S. Salvatore 10/12 (in front of the Town Hall). The artistic path currently has twelve works, some on the wall, others which can be hung on a wall or placed on a table, still others such as the OTI 11 works can be both hung or placed on a table and are in two colour variations. The artist has preceded the work by the letters OTI and subsequent number. OTI stands for Interactive Tactile Work, the number indicates the order in which the work was created. The studio, in a part of which the path is located, is spread over an area of about 550 square meters and contains all the works that the artist has created in 17 years, this is because the artist has never put them up for sale. It is a world full of tales and ideas where there are also many other works, some of which are interactive and could be object of further discoveries.
You can visit to the Studio every day, including Saturdays adn Sundays, with free entrance.
For logistical issues it is necessary to make a reservation by email sand.tomassini@gmail.com or by phone +39 348 2538 710
“Ce sont le regardeurs qui font les tableaux.”
Marcel Duchamp
This famous statement by Duchamp comes to mind when we look at some of the works that Sandro Tomassini has created in various moments of his creative process, starting from the series of Variable Images. In fact, without fearing the loss of authorship and exalting both the formative value of art and saving the power of imagination, Mr. Tomassini solicits the spectators to directly interact with the work (modifying the structure and image) thus involving them in the creative process.
Let’s forget the authoritative “Do not touch” read so many times in museums. Mr. Tomassini is an artist who proposes a relational or participatory art. He really calls it interactive art because his works can, indeed must, undergo true and proper metamorphosis thanks to intervention by the public. In this way the artist and public interact in a participatory dynamic and art loses, in part, its mere function as an object and becomes a formative but also playful experience. After all, according to Gilles Deleuze “art lets us become a child once again”.
Sandro Tomassini overcomes the dichotomy between who creates and who observes, promoting a participatory art, lived and experienced. Thus, also in his most recent works of the OTI cycle, the artist offers users a basic form and structure to start from. He suggests an idea that we must then develop: the definite, but always changing form, that we decide following his input. Structure and form of these interactive works can be modified and personalised according to each person’s sensitivity, by moving parts, adding elements, applying different materials, using simple actions such as weaving or tying knots. Art becomes a formative game, an occasion for sharing, and inclusive experience suitable for all ages.
Francesco Santaniello
OTI 1 – Order or disorder – year 2010 – wall
The work consists of a lacquered wooden panel, measuring 90 x 90 x 5 cm., on the surface of which are 64 holes about 10 cm apart from one another on a regular basis on all four sides. Eight series of round wooden pegs of different lengths and colours are inserted into these holes and can be manually inserted and extracted. The smallest are white then gradually increasing we have grey, brown, yellow, green, blue, purple and red. The author called the work OTI 1 from the title Order or Disorder because he imagined it either with all the pegs of the same colour aligned from left to right or from above downwards or vice versa, or placed in a non-regular way as the user wishes, even with some holes left empty. There is a container fixed to the wall at the side of the work where the various pegs are kept or can be placed. At the beginning of the interaction with the work the panel might have all the holes empty with the pegs in the container, or they could be inserted into the panel in an ordered or disordered manner according to how the previous user left it.
OTI 2 – Thinking about our favourite team – year 2010 – wall
This work consists of a wooden panel measuring 62 cm. in width and 74 in height and with a perimeter frame of 12 cm. It has 14 wooden pegs 4 cm x 4 cm x h 70., each with 4 different coloured sides: white with a grooved line at the bottom, blue with 2 lines, black with 3 and red with 4. The pegs can simply be manually taken out of the structure to then be replaced with the colour of choice in front. So one can make an all white, black, blue or red square or one mixed in different colours. Alternated lines can lso be created in white and black, red and black, black and blue and so forth, which can represent your favourite football team colours. Hence the origin of the title of this work.
OTI 3 – Four plus four equals….one – year 2011 – table
This work consists of eight cubes each measuring 12 x 12 x 12 cm made in acrylic painted wood. The cubes are linked together by hinges and by moving them various compositional shapes can be obtained even making a cube measuring 24 x 24 x 24 cm.. Hence the ironic title of the work . Four of the six faces are black, instead the other two are a mixture of black and white triangles and diamond shapes. This work is also for entertainment.
OTI 4 – Fabric fantasy – year 2014 – wall
This work is made up of a white wooden panel measuring 100 x 100 x 10 cm. in a metallic frame with metal spacers every 10cm. There are fabric strips measuring 100 x 12.5 and/or 100 x 5 with elastics on the ends with hooks so they can be fixed on the panel horizontally or vertically, partially or oblique. These strips are on a structure at the side of the panel. Sometimes a few are also on the panel left by the previous user. Different designs can be created with these strips, geometric with lines, squares or a mixture of various types with the white panel sometimes in the background. On the side of the panel there is another with samples of the various fabric with the colours indicated in writing.
OTI 5 – Laces and ties – year 2015 – wall
This work consists of a white lacquered wooden panel (measuring 102 cm. in width and 86 in height). On this panel there are 16 white metal rings placed geometrically. There is a container at the side on the wall with various types of shoelaces in different material, sizes and colours. In order to identify them, above this container is a panel with each lace and their colour written at the side. At this point one can take the laces however they want and connect them to the rings geometrically or in a disordered way, even going outside the base of the panel. The laces can be knotted together or simply intertwined. The final effect can vary from a minimalistic geometric design (e.g. all black or white) to Pollock’s dripping style. Here too interaction may start either with an empty panel or how the previous user left it.
OTI 6 – Ciop – year 2017 – wall
This work is made up of a white wooden panel (measuring 100 x 100 x 10cm.) with a metallic frame and metal spacers every 10 cm. On the wall at the side are 20 black elastic bungee cords about 1 mt. long that hook onto the edges of the metallic perimeter frame. When placed on the white background of the panel they make original compositions, vertical/horizontal, checkered, triangular and many other combinations. It’s up to the user how he/she wishes to interact with the work and give vent to their imagination. The same as other works the bungees can be in their proper place or how the previous user left them.
OTI 7 – ICO – year 2017 – wall
This work consists of a lacquered wooden panel (measuring 91 x 91cm.) with a surrounding frame having a depth of 8cm. Inside there are slightly oval wooden pegs. The two oval faces are white, one of the parts with the flat surface is black and the other is black and white checked recognisable by a slight difference in thickness. With a simple touch of your fingers the pegs can be moved creating various compositions, all white, all black, black and white lines, checkered or any type of variation one wishes.
OTI 8 – Le Figure , Anoressica e Obesa – anno 2020 – da tavolo
The two works consist of a metallic structure with a round base and an 8mm. diameter rod jutting out at a height of 43 cm. with 17 wooden pegs inserted. The pegs of the Anorexic figure are black and white and decease in size from top to bottom towards the central part; top and bottom measure 18 cm. and the central part is 6.8 cm.. The pegs of the Obese figure are red and blue and increase in measure from the base to the top which is 18 cm. as far as the central part which is 42 cm. This is because these figures give the effect of being particularly thin and the other particularly fat. Hence the title of the work. By simply touching these figures they go from a flat to a volumetric form and take on the strangest patterns. Even taking them out and inserting them again anorexic seems to become fatter and obese thinner. It is a very entertaining work.
OTI 9 – Checkers, stripes, checks and/or patchwork – year 2022 – table
This work consists of a wooden panel with a width of 50 cm and a height of 55 cm inserted on a support base. On this panel vertical pieces of Velcro are attached. In a container apart are squares of different coloured fabric measuring12.5 x 12.5 cm. with velcro sewn on the back with a small panel behind on which samples of the fabric are to be found with their colours indicated in writing. The user can apply the various pieces of fabric on the panel creating whatever he wishes, e.g. with the black and white a chess board can be created, vertical/horizontal lines or free interpretation, likewise also for the other colours. Some pieces of fabric might already be on the panel as left by the previous user.
OTI 9 – Checkers, stripes, checks and/or patchwork – year 2022 – wall
This work measures 100 x 100 cm. and consists of a wooden panel on the wall with vertical strips of Velcro attached. Pieces of various coloured fabric (measuring 12.5 x 12.5 cm.) with Velcro sewn on the back are in a container on the wall at the side of the work and a small panel above with the pieces of fabric and their colours indicated in writing. The user can apply the various pieces of fabric onto the Velcro of the panel creating whatever is desired, a checkered pattern, vertical and/or horizontal stripes, squares, checks and various fantasies. Some pieces of fabric might already be on the panel left by the previous user.
OTI 10 – Round, Round – year 2022 – table
This work (37 cm. wide, 42 cm high and 10 cm. deep) consists of a lacquered wooden structure on a supporting base. Inside the four-storey structure are 16 pegs (8 cm. high, 8 cm. diameter). Each peg has four stripes/vertical grooves: one 2 mm. wide, one 4, one 6 and one 8. In the part between the grooves from 2 to 4 the colour is yellow, from 4 to 6 it’s red, from 6 to 8 it’s blue and from 8 to 2 it’s green. The pegs can be moved in any direction. The purpose is to align them so they have the same colour or other chromatic-geometric combinations. They can also be placed in a random manner creating abstract patterns. In order to facilitate alignment on the base where the pegs are located, at the centre of the same there is a small opening as a reference point.
OTI 11 – Black geometric meetings – year 2022 – table
It starts with a white lacquered wooden structure consisting of a panel with two shelves: one higher and the other lower (75 cm. wide, 42 cm. high and 12 cm. deep). The shelves have eight grooves where seven complimentary black Plexiglas geometric figures are to be inserted. These figures are in a container at the side of the structure. They can be inserted one next to the other in the same groove or in different grooves sliding them and creating various abstract geometric patterns. Where the seven figures are kept there is another two rectangular in shape, one red and the other yellow that can be added to the composition thus creating even more different patterns, modifying the effect of the work that started out as minimalistic. Indications about the geometric figures are on a panel at the side of the work. The Plexiglas figures might be in their container or in the work as the previous user left them.
OTI 11 – Coloured geometric meetings – year 2022 – table
It starts with a white lacquered wooden structure consisting of a panel with two shelves, one higher and the other lower (75 cm. wide, 42 cm. high and 12 cm. deep). The shelves have eight grooves where 6 complementary pairs of figures are inserted and two by two in various coloured Plexiglas. These figures are kept in a container at the side of the structure. Each pair can be inserted in a different groove so abstract patterns can be created by sliding them. They can also be inserted individually using all the grooves, thus increasing possible compositions. Indications about the geometric figures are indicated on a panel at the side of the work. The figures can be kept in their container or inserted in the work as the previous user left them.
OTI 11 – Black geometric meetings – year 2022 – wall
It starts with a white lacquered wooden structure consisting of a panel with two shelves, one higher and the other lower ( 149 cm. wide, 78 cm. high and 12 cm. deep). The shelves have eight grooves where seven complimentary black Plexiglas geometric figures are inserted. These figures are kept in a container at the side of the structure. They can be inserted next to each other, one after the other in the same groove, or in each different groove so as to slide them creating various patterns. Where the seven figures are kept there are another two which are rectangular, one red and the other yellow, that can be added to the compositions creating further structural-compositional solutions, modifying the effect of the work which started out as minimal. Indications about the geometric figures are indicated on a panel at the side of the work. The Plexiglas figures may be in their container or in the work as the previous user left them.
OTI 11 – Coloured geometric meetings – year 2022 – wall
It starts as a white lacquered wooden structure consisting of a panel with two shelves, one higher and one lower (149 cm wide, 78 cm high and 12 deep). The shelves have eight grooves where 6 complimentary Plexiglas figures in various colours are inserted. These figures are kept in a container at the side of the work. Each pair can be inserted in a different groove and by sliding them abstract combinations of figures can be created. They can also be inserted individually using all the grooves, thus increasing the number of possible combinations. Indications about the geometric figures are indicated on a panel at the side of the work. The figures may be in their container or directly on the work as the previous user left them.
OTI 12 -Assembling and disassembling, in the search of other figures – year 2022 it can be on the table or the wall
It starts with a white lacquered wooden panel with two shelves, one higher and the other lower (136 cm. wide, 40 cm. high and 12 cm deep). The shelves have eight grooves where the black Plexiglas elements are inserted that represent the eight main flat geometric figures: the square, rectangle, triangle, circle, rhombus, hexagon, trapezoid and parallelogram. Each of these figures are drawn inside the Plexiglas panels which are initially in two parts and then join together once inserted into the grooves. In this way the eight figures are obtained that can be inserted into the grooves. The half figures can be disassembled and assembled also mixing them up: e.g. half a square with half a rhombus, half circle with half triangle and so on, creating various patterns of irregular flat figures. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing and interesting to see these geometric figures assemble and disassemble, the interesting thing is also the fact that countless patterns can be created from the various profiles according to the user’s imagination. Therefore this work has a great didactic value and is indicated for children, especially those with visual impairments. The Plexiglas elements can be kept in a container at the side of the structure or in the same, according to how they were left by the previous user.
