The Heart's Knowledge: Science and Empathy in the Art of Dario Robleto

Dario Robleto's art explores the pathos and speculative potential of scientific inquiry, focusing on heartbeats, wavelengths, and horizons. This book traces his fascinations with the human heart and cosmic boundaries of perception, with contributions from musicology, anthropology, cardiology, engineering, history of science, and art history. It includes selections from his 2017 portfolio, The First Time, and the astral projections in films such as The Boundary of Life is Quietly Crossed.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2023
Publisher: Marquand Books Inc

Houston-based artist Dario Robleto (born 1972) delves into the emotional depth and imaginative possibilities of scientific exploration through his prints, sculptures, and films. Organized around three central themes that permeate Robleto's artistic practice—heartbeats, wavelengths, and horizons—this book explores his profound fascination with both the human heart and the vast cosmic boundaries of perception. Drawing from a diverse range of disciplines, including musicology, anthropology, cardiology, engineering, the history of science, and art history, The Hearts Knowledge serves as an engaging companion to Robleto's extensive body of work. Illustrated with numerous captivating images, the volume showcases selections from his 2017 portfolio, The First Time, The Heart (A Portrait of Life 1854–1913), which transforms the pulse waves of early cardiography into a gallery of vanished souls, and the astral projections featured in films such as The Boundary of Life is Quietly Crossed (2020).

Robleto's artistic journey is characterized by a deep exploration of the human condition, blending scientific inquiry with emotional resonance. His works often juxtapose the microscopic world of medical imaging with the vastness of the cosmos, challenging viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of all things. Through his use of vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and symbolic imagery, Robleto creates a visual language that speaks to the universal human experience, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries.

One of the key themes in Robleto's art is the heartbeat, which he sees as a symbol of life and vitality. He explores the rhythmic patterns of the heart and how they relate to the broader rhythms of the natural world, using his art to convey the complex interplay between the human body and the environment. Robleto's sculptures and films often depict the heart as a dynamic entity, pulsing and expanding in response to external stimuli, such as music or the environment.

Another theme that Robleto explores is the concept of wavelengths, which refers to the distance between two points in space. He uses this concept to explore the boundaries of perception and the ways in which our understanding of the world is shaped by the tools and technologies we use to observe it. Robleto's films and sculptures often depict the unseen forces that govern the universe, such as electromagnetic waves or gravitational fields, using abstract and geometric forms to convey their complexity and power.

Horizons, the third theme in Robleto's art, refers to the boundaries of our understanding and the limits of what we can perceive. He explores the vastness of the universe and the mysteries that lie beyond our reach, using his art to convey a sense of awe and wonder at the vastness of the cosmos. Robleto's films and sculptures often depict the edge of the known world, where the unknown begins, using abstract and symbolic imagery to convey the sense of exploration and discovery that accompanies this frontier.

Through his interdisciplinary approach, Robleto seeks to bridge the gap between science and art, using his art to communicate complex scientific concepts in a way that is accessible and engaging to a wide audience. His works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and he has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the field of art.

In conclusion, Dario Robleto's artistic practice is a testament to the power of creativity and imagination to explore the boundaries of human perception and understanding. His prints, sculptures, and films offer a unique perspective on the world, blending scientific inquiry with emotional resonance and challenging viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of all things. Through his interdisciplinary approach, Robleto seeks to bridge the gap between science and art, using his art to communicate complex scientific concepts in a way that is accessible and engaging to a wide audience. His works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and he has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the field of art.

Weight: 1021g
Dimension: 216 x 277 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781646570317