No Curves: Tape Art, Cyberpunk, and the Geometry of the Mask
In an interview regarding his exhibition 'EGO – Dal Nastro Adesivo ai Grandi Capolavori' at the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan (May 15 – June 16, 2026), Italian artist No Curves, a trailblazer in tape art, elaborates on his creative process. For more than 25 years, he has crafted faces and figures using adhesive tape, deliberately avoiding curves. Drawing inspiration from street art and cyberpunk culture, he highlights that the term 'cyberpunk' was first introduced by Bruce Bethke in 1980. His artwork merges tape art with video games such as Fallout 4 and Cyberpunk 2077. The exhibition's theme, 'EGO,' delves into the duality of ego, while the balaclava represents both identity and anonymity. No Curves prioritizes instinct over clear-cut interpretations.
Key facts
- No Curves has worked with adhesive tape for over 25 years.
- His aesthetic uses straight lines and 45-degree angles, no curves.
- Exhibition 'EGO – Dal Nastro Adesivo ai Grandi Capolavori' runs May 15 – June 16, 2026 at Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan.
- Cyberpunk term coined by Bruce Bethke in 1980, not William Gibson.
- He integrated tape art into Fallout 4 and Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt RED).
- Name 'No Curves' comes from a curved tool (tape roll).
- Early work destroyed feminine curves on fashion posters.
- Balaclava mask symbolizes anonymity and ego trap.
Entities
Artists
- No Curves
- Raf Valvola
- Ermanno Guarnieri 'Gomma'
- Giacomo Spazio
- Bruce Bethke
- William Gibson
- Ettore Sottsass
- Ryan Holiday
- Elon Musk
Institutions
- Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana
- Shake Edizioni Underground
- Decoder
- Mondadori
- CD Projekt RED
Locations
- Milan
- Italy