Caio Carpinelli’s (1993) practice finds deep inspiration in metaphysical painting, transforming black from a mere tonal value into a dynamic source of illumination.

In his work, black does not symbolize darkness but becomes an active channel for light. His paintings challenge conventional concepts of color, presenting surfaces that reflect, absorb, and interact with light in ways that play with perception. Through the interplay of texture and depth, drawing and distorting what is seen, Carpinelli’s works invite visual engagement and awaken the imagination.

Each work serves as an innovative inquiry into the boundless potential of painting, expanding the limits of abstract language toward spirituality. Thus, Carpinelli’s minimalist style evokes strong emotional reactions through refined yet powerful artistic decisions.

In the words of curator Lucas Albuquerque:

“In the series of paintings Lete (2025), the cut precedes the painting: by sectioning the canvas into five faces obtained either through the 3÷3 rule or the golden ratio, the artist constructs a form in perspective that converges toward the center. Oil paint then comes into play, covering areas with repetitive brushstrokes—obsessive in their attempt to conceal their own trace. Should the dark membrane hide the lines from a less attentive viewer, its edges deceive the senses and recall steel plates—as if observing Tony Smith’s cubes from the inside out.

The title Lete, an ancient Greek word for ‘forgetfulness’ and the complementary opposite of Aletheia, ‘truth.’ leads to a discussion about the ambivalent nature of painting: while staging a fiction about what lies beyond its surface, it is also embodied materiality. As it exposes the master tool that sustains figurative illusion, Carpinelli dissects its function in an exercise of abstraction. Once again, a double.”