Vital Core: Orange II is part of Slices of Life - The Time of Nature, an ongoing series of large-scale circular paintings dedicated to fruits and vegetables. Through the magnification of everyday foods, Italian artist Giulia Aim explores the growing disconnect between contemporary society and the natural cycles that once shaped human life. In a world where seasonality is increasingly overlooked and food is consumed with little awareness of its origins, the artist transforms familiar organic forms into monumental icons that invite renewed attention and reflection.
In Vital Core: Orange II, the orange is enlarged beyond its natural scale and reimagined as a vibrant inner universe. Its radiant segments, translucent membranes, and luminous colours reveal a complex internal structure that often goes unnoticed in everyday life. The circular composition evokes both cellular forms and celestial bodies, blurring the boundaries between the microscopic and the cosmic.
Through meticulous observation and a highly detailed realist technique, the work elevates an ordinary fruit into a symbol of vitality, abundance, and interconnectedness. By isolating and monumentalising fruits and vegetables, Giulia encourages viewers to reconsider their relationship with nourishment, time, and the natural world.
At its core, Slices of Life - The Time of Nature reflects on what contemporary society risks losing as it moves further away from seasonal rhythms and natural processes. The series is guided by a simple yet fundamental idea: just as fruits and vegetables nourish the body, art nourishes the soul. Through scale, colour, and contemplation, the work invites a deeper awareness of nature and humanity's place within it.
