Provoking Hidden Intentions with Rocco Alberico
James Cavello
was at the Broadway Gallery – I was intrigued by the multi-layered commentaries
within his creative and thought provoking work. As I studied the well-crafted
architectural constructions and the interior dioramas I was fascinated with the
complexity of meaning and learned that Rocco is inspired by many experiences
such as his childhood in Long Island, life in Manhattan, in addition to
religion, cults, voodoo, beliefs and even road trips around the U.S. and
Europe.
The
architectural structures house a miniature two-dimensional or three-dimensional
scene that can be viewed through an open door or window, revealing clandestine
rituals or nature’s enigmas or possibly a symbolic message to be interpreted by
the viewer. In addition to the scenes visible from the front or side of the
sculpture, each work has a viewfinder attached, which is sometimes camouflaged
on the outside of the structure. Looking through the 3D viewer pieces together
another aspect of the meaning or implication implied by the artist. The 3D
viewer for me was a throwback to childhood, when I owned a View Master with
color discs, before we had a color television. As a young boy, it was a
mystical experience to see a panorama in front of you that was so realistic,
yet untouchable. In Rocco’s work, the 3D viewer exposes unreal dimensions, such
as the 3D image in 25 Miles as the Crow Flies
style=’font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana’>, of a 1950’s gas stove with an old
coffee pot floating above an open flame, which only makes the one ponder the
viewer’s relationship to the entire piece. I found myself elated when I was
able to piece together the elements of structure, diorama and 3D viewer into
what I determined to be its underlying meaning.
In the
sculpture Aliam Excute Quercum World Headquarters
style=’font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana’> is a 27-inch tall gray building
with a sloping roof and a revolving globe positioned on top of the building. In
his description of the work, Rocco states, “This is the world headquarters of
the A.E.Q., a secretive organization whose true purpose remains unclear.
Members are sworn to secrecy and membership is by ‘invitation only’. It has
branches in over 30 countries with the largest concentration of members in the
United States and Finland.” The outside of the A.E.Q. building appears strange
and sinister, completely covered with small wire spikes. A sliding metal door
with teeth reveals a rock wall providing no entrance. Through a window at the
top of the building one can see a room covered in the same small metal spikes,
a miniature table with a bull’s eye target on the top, three small chairs and a
bomb suspended above the table. The 3D viewfinder image shows a hooded figure
carrying a shovel and bearing a symbolic triangle in a circle on the back of
its jacket. Very mysterious circumstances surround this work, such as are the
subjects of movies, novels, the National Enquirer and Ripley’s Believe it or
Not. However, Rocco provides us with many clues to decipher the implication
presented within the work. Similar to the premise in the recent novel “The Da
Vinci Code” by Dan Brown, symbolism, secret sects, religion, knowledge,
relationships and art are presented to provide the viewer with a look into a
private world.
Once I
experienced Rocco’s work and met this extraordinary artist, so soft-spoken and
articulate, I also wanted to show his work in my gallery. The exhibition
consisted of 10 sculptures and the response was tremendous. I should have
videotaped the reaction of wonder and the commentary from viewers – each work
brought out discussions and caused people who did not know each other to
discuss their interpretations.
The same
thing happened in Berlin with the German audience while the exhibition was at
the Berliner Kunst Project, although the Germans focused much more on the
literal meaning of each work, especially those that contained any religious or
social overtones. Rocco was deeply affected by his recent trip to Germany and
Austria, which has provoked new work to be completed. For more information,
please visit http://www.roccoalberico.com/.
