Horror Vacui, Amor Infiniti

This work deals primarily with the concept of «infinity». The idea of the infinite is as old as mankind. It is present in most religious beliefs, science, literature, and the arts. Infinity both disturbs and fascinates, seduces and frightens us. It is an irresistible invitation, a kind of abyss. And all these contradictions still produce an undeniable appeal.

At the same time, when men are confronted with the idea of «emptiness» it is always present some kind of menacing discomfort. Thus, most of the time, we seek relief in the idea of the «infinite» even with all its endless uncertainties.

In this photobook, special attention is given to a peculiar kind of objects: closed boxes. The unique features of a closed box are thoroughly discussed. What do they enclose? Do they define circumscribed or, after all, unlimited space? How do we relate to this inner domain? What can we find inside them?

The closed boxes depicted in these photographs are meant to contain endless possibilities. Inside them, in the imagined interior, a strange intimacy is created. Inside them, dimensions are abolished, and we always end up traveling through an infinite space. Closed boxes are never empty. Empty boxes are unimaginable.

An open box displays height, width, and depth; its dimensions are finite, that is they are demonstrable. But a closed box is a kind of treasure. And closed treasures are inexhaustible. The size of a closed box is infinite.
«Between the vacuum, the emptiness or the nothingness, one always chooses the disturbing mystery of infinity –horror vacui, amor infiniti».

Texts and photographs Henrique Loff Silva
Proofreading Jennifer Bartlett, Katherine Thompson
Design Joana Henay
1º ed. 2022
ISBN 978-989-33-2954-2
P.p 72
Language EN