For Beauty Is Nothing But The Beginning Of Terror (Detail)

One of the seven paintings in Roberto Chabet's installation, For Beauty Is Nothing But The Beginning Of Terror. The title is derived from the opening lines of poet Rainier Maria Rilke's Duino Elegies, which Chabet translated into a neon text to accompany the set of seven paintings. The five colours - green, blue, yellow, orange, and red - are based on the US Homeland Security Advisory System, a colour-coded system that depicts the current risk of terrorist activity. Added to this are two paintings in black and white. Each painting is embedded with a harmonica, which Chabet has used previously in other works. The paintings are done by Chabet's former student, artist Elaine Roberto-Navas.

The work is included in a three-part exhibition entitled 'Alarm and Chaos' at West Gallery, Manila, from 31 March - 27 April 2009. The title, 'Alarm and Chaos,' is derived from Shakespearean plays, a stage instruction that calls for sudden mayhem. The two other works in the exhibition are Fear and Trembling Alone Will Be Enough and Who's Afraid of Alexander Rodchenko? 

Access level

Online

Publication/Creation date

2009

Creation place

Philippines

Medium

Oil and harmonica on canvas

Dimension

121.92cm x 91.44cm

Content type

artwork documentation

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For Beauty Is Nothing But The Beginning Of Terror (Detail)