“The art space is based on three columns, a reference that is in Freemasonry, which are Ionic, Doric and Corinthian, which would be wisdom, strength and beauty. Wisdom is Julio, I would be the force that pushes everything and the beauty is that the artists grant”, expressed the goldsmith Marco Antonio Arslanianowner of the mythical “Marco’s Cafe”who accompanied by the art specialist and curator Julio SanchezI carry out the personal undertaking of founding an art space linked to Masonic beliefs.
Space vitriol, Located at Teniente General Juan Domingo Perón 1253 in the City of Buenos Aires, it is located in front of the Temple of the Argentine Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The gallery contemplates a new proposal to publicize visual artists who seek to bring their personal works, who have the symbolism and tradition, that the legendary fraternity has hermetically preserved throughout the centuries.
“There are a lot of artists who are in this line and have no place, we are a space for this. The undertaking is independent of the Grand Lodge, In other words, it is symbolic art, where Freemasonry enters. It’s a bigger umbrella, We are not pigeonholed only in the Masonic, but, inside there, it is one more stone that makes up the symbol”, the Vitriol pioneers clarify.
The acronym VITRIOL is a Latin phrase attributed to the alchemist Basil Valentine (born in Alsace, around 1394) which is read as Visit Interiora Terrae Rectifying Inveniens Occultum Lapidem, that is to say: visit the interiors of the Earth, rectifying you will find the Hidden Stone. “From the point of view of Jungian psychology, the Hidden Stone or Philosopher’s Stone iss the individual’s aspiration to live in harmony with himself, with their peers and with the universe. Since there are many artists who are going through the same search, we open this space so that they can express themselves freely”, explained Julio Sánchez.
“The cultural space created to disseminate the symbolic capital of contemporary artists from all over the country. It consists of a large rectangular roomr available to those who inquire the infinite territory of symbols, the rite, the myth, the alchemy, the comparative religions and the spiritual elevation. Various activities such as conferences, talks, discussions, book presentations and courses open to the community will be scheduled throughout the year”, adds the curator.
At the moment the cultural center offers the sample “Vanity of vanities”a set of photographs and a participatory installation of Leandro Allochis. Allochis is a photographer from Santa Cruz who has specialized in “staged photography” (staged photography) and digitally retouched. On this occasion he presents a set of works in which different groups or associations such as Freemasons, Orthodox Jews or Mariachis are identified. In each photo there are allusions to the history of art and reinterpretations of highly iconic works such as “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz”, by El Grecowhose characters appear as mariachis worshiping a Star Trek pinball machine, a nod to the quest to overcome mortality.
Allochis says that he is interested in “attempts to transcend man, the need for social recognition through the generation of hierarchies, to simulate a status superior to the physical and mortal state of the biological body. Throughout time, man has created rituals, religions, monuments and homages with the vain aim of evading the fleeting and perishable existence of the body. The artist added: “It invites the public to pose behind a table with symbolic attributes that embody the universal concern for the perishability of the body. Each person will see in the installation a mirror of what we do every day to feel that life is worth living. On a table there are elements that allude to wisdom, abundance, wealth, rewards and the spiritual search”.
Following Carl Gustav Jung, Allochis believes that symbols do not die, but are transformed and that they have their equivalents in different cultures, even if their appearance is dissimilar. Symbols have the ability to enunciate meanings that go beyond their material support and are evidence of man’s need to transcend matter. In his photos there are symbols of vain glory everywhere: medals, designer dogs, jewels, pearls, rings and honorary titles, all accompanied by his resounding failure, death.
In the future, Vitriol will expand other shows of national artists of the same tone “Alfredo Portillos, Oscar Bony and Victor GrippoThey are superior Argentine artists who work on the theme. There is a new artist, Diego Cienfuegos, who has not exhibited anywhere yet and works on the theme of the guardians and they plan to do his first show for us, ”explained Julio Sanchez. The Masonic cultural center can be visited in Tte. Gral. Perón 1253, between Libertad and Talcahuano, Monday through Friday from 12 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with free admission.
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