88 allegories by Manoloide

‘An allegory is not meant to be taken literally.’

Naguib Mahfouz

'88 Allegories' generative masterpiece by Manoloide, a group of 88 individual artworks, collectively engaged together building up one main canvas. Each image holds its meaningful message with flower, colour, number and shape. Each flower is explicitly positioned to add a vibrant visualization to each arrangement. All 88 are displayed as one body of work as one universal message. Again, this is done intuitively to demonstrate and resonate with the natural system of life. Each element (in this case one artwork) plays a specific role in building the main composition, like a puzzle coming together.

The series of 'Allegories 88' is bound to the concept of a 'symbolism' in history of art that allows the viewer not only to interact with work on the visual basis, but also create an intimate bond to the specific details/signs, which have infinite possibilities of interpretation driven by the erudition and imagination of the viewer.

Ultimately, any experience with an artwork is interactive, relying on a complex interplay between context and 'production of the meaning' at the recipient's end. Yet, this interaction remains a mental event in the viewers mind when it comes to experiencing traditional art-forms. The physicality of the masterpiece on canvas tends to bring stronger emotional relation and develops energetic connection to the artwork in most cases, rather than to the copy on the digital screen. Doesn’t it? What happens in the case of naturally digital artwork created with the help of the computer? Can one connect/interact to the viewer on the similar or stronger level?

Generative art by Manolo certainly is never tacit. Every detail in his code is an expressive and talking bit. The employment of digital technologies as an artistic medium implies that the work exclusively uses the digital tools from production to presentation. Nevertheless, we should also not underestimate the 'relationship' between the artist with the computer and how he interacts with it. It is important to point out that the digital medium is not by nature visual but always consists of a 'back end' of code that mostly remain hidden from the visible 'front end' that is experienced by the viewer. The results can range from complex visuals to very abstract. Manolo's works are predominantly visually aesthetic, but the information that he infinitely developed, recycled, and reproduced in various contexts bred a greater idea for Allegories 88 where each visual component written by code reveals a crucial symbolic meaning.

Symbolism is one of the movements in the fine arts, in which the artist uses hidden messages, allegories and even cyphers with deep philosophical or mystical meaning in the painting. Mysterious signs in the works embody the connection between the real and the magical worlds. They force the viewer to think actively, abandon the simplified perception of the plot and find the true essence of the author's idea. Symbolism had a significant impact on world art, became the forerunner of many new directions of a painting of the twentieth century.

What is an allegory? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "allegory" is defined as a "story, picture, or another piece of art that uses symbols to convey a hidden or ulterior meaning". This program presents you 88 artworks – 88 allegories, all exceptional in their composition (flower), symbol, colour, and number.

Symbolism has profound historical roots. Mysterious signs were used in the fine arts back in ancient Egypt and Babylon to decorate monumental buildings later in the Antiquity era.

During Renaissance, many artists showed interest in symbolism. Masters of that time often filled paintings with mysterious signs on religious and mythological subjects. One of the greatest Symbolists is a Dutch painter Jheronimus Bosch.

In the XVIII-XIX centuries, the features of symbolism can be observed in the works of many landscape painters. It was romanticism that became the cradle for the formation of symbolism as a separate trend in art. Both styles are united by the desire to seek higher spirituality. The difference was that the Romanticists saw the greatest mystery of life in the knowledge of their inner world, and the Symbolists sought it in the absolute Being.

Art speaks to people in the language of symbols.  A symbol, like a riddle, has many meanings; its meanings can be explored endlessly. The depth of understanding of a symbol depends on one's ability of interpretation, erudition, and intuition.

A symbol can be denoted by a number, a property or a form. For example, the number 7 symbolizes perfection and completeness, blue (the colour of the sky) indicates everything spiritual, the shape of a circle resembling the sun and the moon represents divine perfection. 

The symbol was actively used in art until the second half of the XIX century and only then became a rarity.
Symbols usually refer to the mind and human feelings, the subconscious that generates complex associations. That is why symbols were so often and naturally used in art, especially in painting. There are many symbols in Giovanni Bellini, Botticelli, Rubens and others.

It's hard to disagree that the flowers as an image are one of the most famous motifs in art. In Manolo's practice, you can see that he turns to nature for inspiration in most of his works. There is no better reference or an algorithm than our planet and universe. Each component, flower or bee, has its meaning and plays an essential part in the overall generative universal framework—these series referencing flowers, e.g., one of the fundamental symbolic elements.

The decorative qualities and diversity of flora were appreciated by artists many centuries ago. So as these series are not just a generated computer image, beautiful as it is, they enforce a deeper meaning. In Manolo's work, flowers, for example, are not just a mere decoration of the artwork that is devoid of semantic content ornaments. On the contrary, they are full of symbols, where flowers play a special place in the overall concept.

 Flowers have always had many meanings in myths and legends. The history of the symbolism of flowers dates to ancient times, mostly known from the Middle Ages during the development of so-called religious art. Rose and Lilly, for example, were always among popular ones between the church motives and the emperor's commissioned artworks.

Gradually, with the development of heraldry, and later with the advent of the Renaissance and the return to ancient origins, the symbolism of colours expanded and was filled with additional meanings.

It is very problematic for the modern eye to find and decrypt the bizarre language of allusions and references used by old masters. However, during the heyday of floral symbolism, such nuances were always supported with the hidden meaning to understand what artists put into their paintings as a message.  Moreover, over the 16th century, secular symbolism in art had gradually gained more rights. Renaissance resurrected the legacy of antiquity, and flowers were again accompanying the images of Venus and Flora, full of allegories bringing meanings of various feelings, elements, personifying spring, smell or sight, earth, fire, love, passion or death.

In Europe, during the late XIX century, the idea that flowers representing feelings grew to a particular communication system, and the unique code was invented to compose floral messages. In England, e.g. in many societies, specific colours of flowers have acquired symbolic meanings; those 'floral' messages were used in everyday life for the personal expression of feelings.  

Greek mythology is also the one full of meanings and connections to flowers. Myths about poppies, narcissus, rose, and sunflower is to name a few.

In addition, flowers play rich symbolism in the East, where floral motifs have even more extensive history. For example, in Asian mythology, the lotus usually symbolizes the female sexual organs, representing new life from where it is born. Lotuses appear in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology too.

Certain flowers in many cultures are associated with birth, with life after death, with youth or the return of the spring or rebirth. In many societies, specific colours of flowers have obtained symbolic values too.

Manolo comes from the land of the bright sun - Argentina. Bright saturated colours acquire special significance in his works. Besides colouring, it is also an excellent way to give vitality and personality to an artwork. Manolo imagines colour as a kind of substance - an essential component of the nature of a thing. The primary palette is based on six basic shades and colours obtained by mixing these six shades.

Yellow is associated with the sun, which gives and takes life. Female colours are more associated with calmer pallets of lavender; brighter pink is meant to express sexuality. The yellow flower may suggest gold or the sun as happiness, joy or wealth; the white represents purity, innocence, or honesty. Red declares love, desire, or an act of courage. Green is a symbol of renewal and nature. Sky blue symbolizes the sea and the attributions of the sea, calmness,flows, flows, changes. The purple relays to success, admiration, and pride. There are many interpretations of color, and most of them is very individual, the viewer is to decide if he relates to specific colors, as your preference can vary from day to day…

The shapes also have a unique subtext in Manolo's work. Geometry plays a vital role in generative art in general. All the things we see can be associated with simple shapes. Through shapes, we also communicate in everyday life. The basic geometric shapes - the simplest and most familiar to our eye: squares, circles, triangles, and their derivatives, such as rectangles, ovals, and polygons represent ideas and feelings.  Most geometric shapes are symbolic and instantly recognizable in Allegories 88 conveying silent messages. I can only name a few interpretations here.

·       Squares and rectangles make us feel safe. They give a sense of stability and order but easily fall to the background, and the feelings they convey are primarily subliminal.

·       Circles characterize completeness, a natural sense of wholeness: The Earth, The Sun, The Moon etc.

·       Triangles can vary in the meaning depending on their position. When pointing up, they signify stability and power; when pointing down, they become unbalanced. The triangle is mainly a masculine shape, but when flip-flopped, it also can signify female reproduction. In spirituality usually triangles represent the union of body, mind, and spirit.

·       Besides geometric shapes, Stars can also be considered symbols as they are often used in religious illustrations and have a variety of connotations. Stars are memorable and often symbolize the importance and divine guidance and protection.

The numeric number for each of them also brings a special significance and serves as an additional symbol. The symbol of number and flower together brings a powerful message. These works are not just artwork but a "new" cryptogram to communicate visual coded messages through art, flowers and the magic of numbers. 

Manolo created 88 individual artworks choosing ‘8’ as an infinite message related to infinite love, infinite energy, inner wisdom, and compassion. Each artwork plays a role to conclude and empower an overall message with 88 artworks.

We have a universe within ourselves that mimics the universe outside. We are all part of the universal product, and we are the key elements that can change, improve, and create an infinite energy through any means of communication one to another. The way we decide to recognize the allegories, forms a letter in our heads and delivers the message to the space.

A viewer is given an opportunity to redefine the possibilities of interpretation of these given symbols, as 88 Allegories is meant to elevate the connection between the viewer, nature, and its representation in the generative digital matrix.

We can approach the universal through the particular.

Please see the catalogue of all 88 works HERE.

Discover the full collection on Opensea HERE.

Eight Fine Art Prints are displayed below. Final compositions of all 88 individual works arranged by the artist in various orders, as a final statement to the overall body of work.

Terms & Conditions apply for this release:

All the works (NFTs) will be minted on opensea.io and sold upon request with preliminary KYC/AML check of all clients in order to comply with the regulation. Should you wish to reserve a work, please send us KYC form attached, properly filled out together with the copy of an ID document - same if the purchase is by a collective or a company. Only after the receipt of the KYC form and ID copy we will be able to reserve the works.

Each collector/collective can acquire no more than 3 digital artworks as NFTs and 1 print.

To RSRV: Email us HERE.

Learn more about the artist:

Artist’s BIO

Dreamverse Event NYC, November 4th 2021

Exclusive interview by Kate Vass ‘'THE GENERATIVE ART THAT WEARS THE COLORS OF THE SOUL', August 10th 2021

Recent show ‘Game of Life’, July 2020 - April 2021 @KVG