Carlo Santoro, founder of the Metaestetica Lab. PHOTO SUPPLIED
The lucky residents of Phnom Penh should prepare to step into a truly extraordinary experience at Pi-Pet-Pi Gallery, an exclusive art gallery located in the heart of Phnom Penh, just a stone’s throw away from the Independence Monument on Street 240.
Prepare to be completely immersed in Metaestetica Lab’s latest art installation, an extraordinary fusion of laser beams brought to life by Laser Cambodia FX and electronic sounds.
“The event will last for just three hours on Wednesday June 14, from 6.30 to 9.30 pm. Admission is free and everyone is invited to attend any time during the evening. You can bring your kids too!” said Carlo Santoro, founder of the Metaestetica Lab.
Santoro is an associate professor of Art, Architecture, and Urban Design at the American University in Phnom Penh, and organised the show. He holds a Ph.D. in Architecture and Construction and a Master’s degree in Construction Engineering from the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
Santoro and Gian Claudio De Cecco have created an immersive laser show titled “The Extended Dimensions of Space.”
De Cecco, an Italian photographer and videographer, brings his extensive knowledge of marketing, advertising, and social media, along with his creative thinking and flair for innovative solutions, to the installation.
“This decade-long research project explores the intriguing world of strange attractors, which are mathematical entities with enigmatic shapes and mysteries yet to be fully understood,” they say.
The show presents five new three-dimensional forms generated by Santoro’s random algorithms, dynamically transforming familiar forms like those of legendry mathematicians Lorenz and Arneodo.
It is a digital exploration of the captivating mathematical realm of strange attractors, whose enigmatic shapes hold yet-to-be-unravelled mysteries.
The recognisable forms of Lorenz and Arneodo will come to life, fluidly and morphologically transformed by De Cecco’s computer code, giving birth to five new astonishing three-dimensional structures.
His video creations have enlivened events at renowned clubs in Phnom Penh, such as Epic and Pontoon, while his latest exhibition, “The Inner Room,” was showcased at Sra’Art Gallery in Phnom Penh in 2020.
These awe-inspiring forms are generated through seemingly random algorithms conceptualised by Santoro back in 2013. To further enhance the experience, the installation will be accompanied by a mesmerising soundtrack featuring the electronic sounds of Brian Eno.
“These multivalent geometric compositions, aimed at deconstructing observers’ perceptual coherence and promoting conditions of interpretive deviance, can contribute to the new transition of the Cambodian art scene in embracing new media of contemporary art, questioning established canons or producing new orders through subjective contributions and collective dialogues,” Santoro told The Post.
As the founder of the Metaestetica Multidisciplinary Research Lab, he actively participates in exhibitions and events worldwide, showcasing digital and participatory art in renowned venues like the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome (MACRO) and the National Museum of Cambodia.
“Simply put, the proposed installations will push visitors to interpret the forms, allowing them to freely express judgments and opinions based on their own background, instead of empathetically adhering to any kind of predetermined concept or message proposed by the exhibition curator”, he explained.
The Extended Dimensions of Space will be screened simultaneously in an extraordinary large-format video projection curated by David Brown with kaleidoscopic and fading effects on the buildings of Battambang’s historic city center during the ongoing S’Art Urban Art Festival through June 17 and will be part of the second Poetronica exhibition at the Cambodian German Cultural Centre, Meta House, on June 30.
David Brown’s extensive portfolio encompasses documentaries, community film projects, commercial work, and feature films, with a broad range of experience spanning across all states of Australia and extensive work in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Myanmar, and Nepal, while his passion for advocating for human rights shines through in many of his documentary works.
The event “The Extended Dimensions of Space: Immersive Laser Show” is supported by the Italian Cambodian Business Association (ICBA) – Arts Committee.
