Artist Ralph Hage is showcasing at the Escape Gallery until November 11 a limited edition selection of photographs mounted on an aluminum base with geometric shapes. Through these works, he introduces us to a playful visual language and sparks a fresh conversation with nature around us, of which the forest stands as a symbol. The forest serves not only as a green lung but has also been a source of energy throughout human existence.
Diverse Aspects
Hage’s work is part of a broader artistic project centered on the construction of the world. These pieces emerge from an extensive journey of studies, research and trials where geometry intertwines with his inspirations. As the artist himself puts it, “The idea embodies my personal call to art. The subsequent reflection is the artwork.” Hage’s intrigue with this concept has spanned many years, fortified by a background in history, art and a doctorate in semiotics. These canvases have undergone various manipulations and processes, guided by Hage’s intuitive grimoires. So, why the forest? To Hage, it epitomizes the Darwinian mechanism – the natural selection that has birthed beauty in biology, architecture, culture and philosophy, influencing human cognition, society and the environment. “The dominance of this theory has grown so vast that it has permeated other spheres. Hage does not believe in divorcing arts from sciences. To him, they are distinct perspectives of reality, intrinsically linked.
Transitioning between these mediums feels organic to him, encountering no friction in his thought processes. “The interdisciplinary approach, which assures the world’s unity, is the most encompassing, and it is this very approach that captivates me, for I wish to make it the essence of my art.”
Designing Geometric Forms
Hage’s artworks are distinctively digital, crafted using Photoshop and digitally painted, predominantly featuring circular shapes. These are not born out of symbolic intent but rather steered by emotion and instinct; otherwise, subjectivity would be lost. Could circles, then, be the perfect representation of the cosmos? The canvas and its forms seem to naturally manifest.
Hage’s work has been displayed in museums and galleries worldwide, notably in New York, Montreal and Beirut. His other research pursuits encompass understanding mathematical and geometric musical forms, especially Baroque music. He’s also intrigued by art’s role in shaping identity, the roots of modernity, and potential ramifications of the digital revolution. Why did humans turn to the practice of art? Fundamentally, it is the unity across the various artistic expressions evident today. “There are no barriers between painting, philosophy, literature and mathematics, merely different lenses through which to view the world.” The geometric dimension might signify the imprints we leave on the world, and the amalgamation of the discussed elements might represent processes shaping the world.
Article penned by Elga Trad
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