Alessandro D’Aquila’s Dioptric Alphabet: ‘Before Language’ at Marignana Arte, Venice
On May 22, 2026, Marignana Arte in Venice will unveil 'Before Language / Prima del Linguaggio,' a solo exhibition featuring the work of Alessandro D’Aquila, curated by Simone Marsibilio, which will be on display until September 5, 2026. D’Aquila’s creations blend imagery and text through illuminated lightboxes and a dioptric alphabet inspired by Braille-like dots. His art investigates pre-linguistic perception, concentrating on how we physically see. The 'abbecedario diottrico' turns letters into tangible forms, highlighting sensory experience. The article mentions that the earliest alphabet appeared around the mid-second millennium BCE among Semitic cultures. D’Aquila’s pieces challenge conventional syntax, engaging with digital culture and emphasizing the significance of physicality, inviting viewers to perceive letters as real materials.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Before Language / Prima del Linguaggio' by Alessandro D’Aquila opens at Marignana Arte, Venice on 22 May 2026.
- The show runs until 5 September 2026.
- The exhibition is curated by Simone Marsibilio.
- D’Aquila employs lightboxes, Braille-inspired dot matrices, and poetic texts in his works.
- The article explains the distinction between diopters (lens power) and visual acuity (measured in tenths).
- The first alphabet is attributed to Semitic peoples of Syria and Palestine in the mid-2nd millennium BCE.
- D’Aquila’s works are physical and tangible, contrasting with dematerialized digital culture.
- The exhibition features hybrids with new technologies, including words transferred onto acetate.
- The title references the pre-linguistic field of vision.
Entities
Artists
- Alessandro D’Aquila
- Simone Marsibilio
- Louis Braille
Institutions
- Marignana Arte
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Syria
- Palestine