Spettro del visibile
SPETTRO DEL VISIBILE
“Spettro del visibile” by Dave Tavanti explores the boundary between what we see and what remains invisible, revealed through infrared photography. In this work, ordinary landscapes and foliage transform under infrared light: leaves glow white, trees emerge from darkness, and familiar settings reveal hidden dimensions. This piece invites contemplation and introspection, showing how light and color can create a world beyond ordinary perception.
Inspired by the aesthetics of Japanese ukiyo-e and using compositional reduction, the artwork emphasizes essential forms and restrained color palettes, evoking a poetic interpretation of nature where the visible and invisible coexist in harmony.
The concept behind the work
This artwork captures the beginning of the Clorofilla project: the moment when visible reality is seen differently, opening questions about perception. A tree, rich in chlorophyll, appears to bloom under invisible infrared wavelengths, transforming living leaves into luminous, spectral forms. The effect challenges our assumptions about what we perceive, revealing an extraordinary world hidden within the ordinary.
The title “Spectrum of the Visible” plays on the dual meaning of the Italian word “spettro”: both the spectrum of light made visible and the presence of ghostly, almost otherworldly forms. This duality underlines the essence of the work: exploring both physical light and the subtle emotional presence of the natural world.