Cypresses Arguing About the Byzantine Empire, 2024, Mixed Media

This striking mixed media artwork by Gozo, titled Ten Cypresses Arguing About the Byzantine Empire, features a row of cypress trees painted in rich greens against a shimmering gold leaf background. The vivid green trees, with their expressive brushstrokes and the unexpected touch of red at their bases, stand out against the opulence of the gold, creating a powerful visual contrast between natural and symbolic elements. The work is created using an assemblage of recycled materials such as newspaper, wood veneers, and packing foam, carefully finished with gold leaf to enhance its visual impact. The attention to detail and craftsmanship imbues the discarded materials with newfound value, blending the surreal and the sublime. On the reverse, the humorous and thought-provoking phrase "Ten Cypresses Arguing About the Byzantine Empire" adds an intellectual layer of playfulness, inviting deeper reflection on the interplay between history, nature, and the absurd. This contrast between front and back reflects Gozo's ability to marry dreamlike surrealism with humor and critical thought, making the piece both visually and conceptually engaging. This artwork is an original, one-of-a-kind creation, crafted with mixed media and gold leaf on a variety of salvaged materials and handsigned by Gozo. The artwork is delivered with a signed certificate of authenticity. Gozo is a collective driven by the community of artists at Casa das Peritas, an art space located in the rural area of the Galician Atlantic Coast in Spain. The collective is focused on the creation of medium and large-format works where the poetic dimension becomes the central element. The works of Gozo emerge from processes of creative disruption and are activated through playful work sessions where individual authorships dissolve into a common brand that celebrates the wonder of the world's beauty. The resulting artworks are materialized in eclectic and unbiased styles and techniques, designed to provoke pleasure in their contemplation and contribute to the creation of healthy, pleasant, and enjoyable interior spaces.