Nina Kopecka Reilly
she/her
De Divina Proportione
This recent body of work involves a combination of sculpture and painting through which I endeavour to explore a mathematical sequence called after the Italian mathematician, Leonardo Bonacci from Pisa, the FIBONACCI SEQUENCE or the FIBONACCI NUMBERS.
The sequence consists of a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers. It is commonly associated and compared with the 'Golden Ratio', also referred to as the 'Divine Proportion', the 'Golden Mean', the 'Golden Rectangle', or the 'Golden Spiral'.
There are many examples of Fibonacci numbers, that appear in the sequence in the natural world. However, just because a series of numbers can be applied to an object, that does not imply that there is any correlation between the mathematics and reality.
Nevertheless, when to implement the sequence into art or chromatology (the science of colour), interesting outcomes can be achieved. The way of visualising of the sequence is purely abstract and at times it feels minimalist.
In my works, I 'deconstruct' the sequence often represented as a spiral, into the primary ideal elements represented by means of geometric shapes, mostly squares or cubes, or by a specific colour. Each work has a hidden logical reasoning. Lines and colours are intentional, and meaningful. Nothing is random nor accidental. Each composition is thoroughly planned, calculated and arranged.
The aim of the work is not simply to translate the sequence into an abstract painting or sculpture but rather find in it a deeper meaning reaching far beyond the mathematics that initiates a conversation and raises questions about the humanity, the science, the divine and the existence.
In my works, I often use wire, clay, plaster cloth gauze, and acrylics. I like also to experiment with materials such as papier-mâché and sometimes wood. There is a strong presence of gold as a colour across the works due to its spiritual representation of deeper concepts such as purity, enlightenment, and the divine. The use of white, black and grey palette is also intentional, meaningful and symbolic.
Through these works I endeavour to express my vision about the ORDER and CHAOS, CONSTRAINT and OPENNESS, LOGIC and RANDOMNESS, the DARK vs the LIGHT and the space between them. I also search to express the aspect of SPIRITUALITY, CREATION, UNIVERSE and INFINITY.
The Sequence, black and gold wire, clay, approx. 32 x 31 x 12cm
The Formation of the Elements, wire mesh, black and gold wire, clay, approx. 45 x 60 x 32cm
The Grid of the Soul, papier-mâché, acrylics, gold metallic paper, black wire, clay, approx. 34 x 27 x 22cm
Genesis, papier-mâché clay, acrylics, soft wood, black and gold wire, aluminium wire, cardboard, glue, sealant, approx. 55 x 12cm
To the Core, black wire, bamboo, soft wood, acrylics, 34 x 34 x 34cm
Boundaries from Within, plaster gauze cloth, 21 x 21 x 21cm
Falling Apart, acrylics on natural cotton canvas, 30 x 30cm each, overall size 30 x 90cm
Order of the Elements, 2025, acrylics on cotton canvas, 60 x 90cm
The Order and The Chaos, acrylics on cotton canvas, 60 x 90cm
Research
Research sample image, Goethe's 24 colour wheel theory with the implementation of the Fibonacci Numbers