I recently had the good fortune to read the article “Nicola Mastroserio and the Universal Symbol of Life” in the online art magazine Art Times Now. I am familar with Italian artist’s Nicola Mastroserio’s work, which he refers to as Cellulism, “the world of infinite intelligences, the world beyond appearances,” and I eagerly turned to l;earn more about his latest work, The Universal Symbol of Life.
I enjoy and relate to Mastroserio’s art and philosphy because his perspective of the “world of infinite intelligences” is similar to what I hope to portray through the varied publications in Baladi Magazine. Art Times Now describes Masterserio’s art as healing, and a call to peace, love, and brotherhood and the writer of the article notes the influence of scientific and technological advancements on his work. As an appreciator of art, I was particularly intrigued by “The Universal Symbol of Life” and found myself in dialogue with the piece.
Later, I reached out to Nicola Mastroserio to continue the dialogue with the artist himself.
Layla Goushey: Nicola, thank you for being willing to engage with a few of my observations and questions about “The Universal Symbol of Life.”
When I view “The Universal Symbol of Life,” my eye is drawn to the center, yet I constantly feel a pull toward different points of the image so that the balanced image appears briefly unbalanced (if that makes sense). This gives me the feeling that the interior is moving and drawing me into a depth I comprehend but cannot visually identify. I believe the circle helps create this effect. What drew you to combining the squares within a circular boundary?
Nicola Mastroserio: First of all, thank you, Layla, for your wonderful curiosity and sensitivity, and for recognizing the importance of the Universal Symbol of Life.
The work is purely conceptual, even though it is based on a mathematical and existential model that echoes the principle of life. The sense of depth in the squares alludes to the depth of our origins, and the idea of movement is intentional, as it is intrinsic to life itself. Similarly, the circle encloses and protects the living whole in an idea of infinity—the One.
It is important to say that the main goal is not to explore the fields of life through human logic, which is limited, but rather to clearly indicate our common belonging to the System of Life. The intention is to start working together as a human species toward a common objective: Life. This is an explicit call for us all to become active collaborators in our future by protecting the life of every human being and the life of all creatures, both terrestrial and non-terrestrial.
We must become a true human civilization capable of safeguarding its own life, the life of every human being, and the whole of creation, having understood the universal principles of Life, which are Peace, Love, and Fraternity.
Layla Goushey: I read “The Universal Symbol of Life” from the center outward. Perhaps this says something about my perception of the world. Did you create the image with a particular direction in mind? Is there a rhythm, pattern, or sequence you want viewers to notice in the arrangement?
Nicola Mastroserio:The sequence is an important starting point, considering the origin… where everyone must be able to see in the Universal Symbol of Life their own existential depth and their own Life connected with the to everything, and compare their own physical and spiritual evolution… The Universal Symbol of Life is life speaking to life…
Layla Goushey: Do the squares follow a mathematical or symbolic arrangement? Was it inspired by another source?
Nicola Mastroserio: The squares follow a mathematical arrangement that represents the origin of life and symbolically captures Life in all its forms within a single symbol. For the human species, it represents the unity of human beings as they relate to life and to existence as a whole.
The Universal Symbol of Life was born from my heart, out of love for life, for human beings, and for all creation. It is not inspired by any existing source, but rather it paves a new way for the future of humanity.
I sincerely hope this future is one of prosperity and collaboration for the protection of the life of every single human being and of every creature throughout the entire cosmos.
Layla Goushey: You have two appendages beneath the larger square and their length differs from each other, so they are asymmetrical. This seems to be “imperfect” and reminds me of the Navajo “spirit line” that infers that only the divine is perfect and/or the imperfection allows the artist’s soul to escape the art. This asymmetry also adds movement to the whole. What were your intentions with this aspect of The Universal Symbol of Life and does the concept of the “spirit line” fit within your conceptual vision?
Nicola Mastroserio:The Universal Symbol of Life is purely a spiritual and representative symbol, as well as a conceptual one, that carries the values of universal peace, Love, and fraternity…
”Surely my soul escaped art, but art did not escape my soul…”
The two appendages are exactly the part that connects interiority—the essence—with the exteriority that goes beyond life and the concept of existence, which can be summarized in the form of a matrix… as a single vital process.
In its form, one can grasp what seems like an imperfection, but in reality, it is a perfection useful for being life in connection with the orders of creation.
And in this, the eternal movement of life is created—the cycle of animic, spiritual, and material transformations… Thus, the being transforms itself while remaining immutable… alive, in the form of the Unique Consciousness.
Layla Goushey: The circle seems to convey containment, wholeness, and a spatial emptiness beyond our planet, so I am reading this image both in concrete, planetary terms, but I’m also reminded that humans need structure, a foundation, in order to flourish. I’m invited to absorb the inner structures in order to reach the circular whole – to see globally.
Nicola Mastroserio: This question, too, amazes me in seeing how much beauty and curiosity exists in the human being…
Yes, the circle is a definition of the infinite that finds concreteness in the finite that renews itself, the completion of a perfection necessary for life… one that welcomes and protects… so that it may be for all human beings without any distinction.
Everyone is called to follow their own path of development… of soul and body… in order to acquire a consciousness, a completeness of the whole, useful and necessary for dialogue and for reaching the single common goal, which is Life. And this is enclosed in the circle…
With the Universal Symbol of Life, we want to trace a precise new line for the future of humanity… as a single people, as a single race… a single Universal family… where every human being that is born is a universal child of the entire humanity and, as such, will be welcomed, loved, and protected… directed toward cosmic knowledge, and made partaker of their own individual and collective evolutionary process of a cosmic and universal nature…
In the concept of the Universal Symbol of Life, Life is Sacred… and its sacredness is expressed in peace, Love, and fraternity.
Nicola Mastroserio
Across the world, there are individuals who express an awareness of “infinite intelligences” and that “every human being that is born is a universal child of the entire humanity.” Masterserio’s work offers wise opportunities for reflection on these important aspects of our collective awareness. Much appreciation to Nicola Masterserio for sharing his time and his thoughts for this article.
Nicola Masterserio is an Italian poet and artist, theorist, creator, and founder of the Universal Symbol of Life. He is the creator and theorist of the universal concept of “Cellulism.” He has exhibited his works in various cities and institutions around the world including the Louvre Museum, Paris, 57th Venice Biennale, Imai Museum, Japan, Vittoriano Complex, Rome, Bhia Museum of Art, Brazil, Technopolis, Athens, and elsewhere.
Publications: Artnews, “New York,” Art forum, New York, The ArtWord Post, ArtMuse express, Art Times Now, Baladi Magazine, international newspapers, media, and art magazines.
Poetry:
Some poems have been published and translated in India, Turkey, Italy, and the United States.
He loves, writes, and thinks for the future of humanity. To which he has always dedicated his life as an existential mission of Peace, Love, and Brotherhood.
” IN QUESTO MARE
D’ESISTENZA…
SPLENDE DI GIOIA
LA VITA…”
“IN THIS SEA…
LIFE SHINES WITH
JOY OF EXISTENCE..”
Nicola Mastroserio
See more Nicola Masterserio’s poems in Baladi Magazine here.
