In Luisa Valeriani's artwork "2024=5," every detail is a piece of a conceptual puzzle depicting the conflict between common perception and reality distorted by social manipulation, revealing the subtle imposition of a false equation: 2+2=5. Its graphic, obsessive repetition on a metaphorical blackboard becomes a symbol not only of imparted knowledge but also of the tool through which manipulation and coercion of thought are perpetrated, as well as the pervasiveness of false narrative, and the attempt to instill a distorted truth in the observer's mind. This additional concept underscores the importance of awareness and individual resistance to social manipulation, prompting reflection on power dynamics and control in contemporary society. "If the Party says that two plus two equals five, and if the Party says that it is so, then it is so," declares the protagonist in George Orwell's 1949 novel "1984." Within this intricate conceptual framework, various literary references emerge, highlighting the struggle against despotic power and individual repression: Ray Bradbury "Fahrenheit 451," Evgenij Zamjatin "We," Aldous Huxley "Brave New World," Christina Dalcher "Vox," Anthony Burgess "A Clockwork Orange," and Alan Moore "V for Vendetta." Yet even in darkness, there are glimpses of rebellion and awareness embodied by those who continue to defend arithmetic truth, asserting that 2+2=4. "Two times two makes four is no longer life, gentlemen, but the beginning of death," asserts Fëdor Dostoevskij. This rebellion addresses a world seeking to self-mold according to inexorable laws to which humanity feels compelled to conform, thus undermining its own personality and individuality. And this is precisely why the "Underground Man" vehemently rejects the world of 2x2=4. The artwork transcends mere conceptual exposition. Each highlighted number in the background acts as an electrode of an electrocardiogram probing the vitality and awareness of the observer. It's a clear invitation to deep reflection on individual perception of reality and resistance to social manipulation. Comprising four canvases revealing a unity, it echoes the concept of the fifth dimension, returning to the central theme of 2+2=5 and transforming into a multisensory experience inviting reflection and exploration of the nuances of truth and perception in society.
