ROUND ROUND, GET AROUND

[18.04.24 - 09.05.24]

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It is acknowledged that the first years of our lives play a fundamental role in sculpting the path towards our future selves. Our childhood is indeed a crucial moment where our identities, beliefs and emotional patterns are formed. Within this realm, we grapple with newfound constraints and regulations, confront unsettling revelations and the specter of trauma, yet also witness the blossoming of dreams, playfulness, and creativity. This dynamic interplay between blessings and burdens leaves an enduring mark on our memories, irrespective of our desires.

Various artists have frequently drawn inspiration and tried to reconnect with the joys and challenges of this period.

A renowned Spanish painter once famously remarked that every child possess an innate creative ability, yet he also recognized the struggle to preserve this spirit as we grow older. He aptly noted that while mastering the techniques of old masters took him few years, unlearning conventions and rediscovering the boundless creativity of childhood for him was a lifelong journey.

In addition to expressing themselves through drawings, paintings, and other artistic endeavors, children joyfully acquire and cultivate positive essential traits through the universal language of play. Games serve not just as a primary avenue for kids to nurture and cultivate their imagination and self-expression as they explore diverse thoughts, feelings, and perspectives, but also offer adults a way to reconnect with their inner child, momentarily setting aside certain societal norms.

Throughout his work, Gil Ferrão has extensively been inspired by the joys of childhood and the lighthearted spirit

of its games to create immersive and interactive installations that evoke nostalgic memories from childhood, as they offer a playful temporary escape from the rigidity of adulthood and a perceived seriousness prevalent in certain artistic spheres. Frequently, his pieces repurpose found objects and discarded toys once cherished by children, imbuing them with new life as artworks that resonate across generations. His ongoing exploration sparks a continuous reevaluation of the role of play within the realm of art, actively exploring concepts related to the aesthetic potential and transformative capacity of games.

For Round Round, Get Around, Gil Ferrão created a large-scale installation that transforms the space of OSTRA into

a vibrant playground-like setting. Here, viewers have the option to either to explore the sculptures at a distance or actively engage with them by interacting and playing along the path they weave throughout the area. For those inclined to participate, more than grasping the rules of the game, what I think it’s crucial to understand is the difference between the objective and the purpose of this installation. While the objective is evident: to make the ball roll from the blue basket into the hole beneath the yellow flag - successful players might receive a reward. However, the purpose, representing the deeper motivation for playing, remains, as it always is in games, undefined. Nevertheless, in the case of this installation, I sincerely hope it revolves around enjoying, remembering, and perhaps even unlearning.

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Mattia Tosti

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