«Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the more often and steadily we reflect upon them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within »

Immanuel Kant, Critique of Practical Reason (5:161–2) 1788

In this introspective painting David Dalla Venezia portrays a self-portrait sculpture of himself wearing a canvas blindfold, that, just as the mask on our mouths and noses, covers his eyes, in an inward look inside.

A mask, a small mask, has become a constant companion in our everyday lives. It allows us to be together in a time in which to gather cannot be as natural as it used to be. We wear a mask to protect ourselves and above all to protect the others around us. The mask stands for our common commitment to look forward for a way out of this global pandemic.

Mascareta in Venetian means literally “small mask”, but in Venice it primarily recalls the name of a typical wooden rowing boat. The Venetian way of rowing is unique, the rower stands on his feet in the stern looking straight ahead in order to be able to watch around and smoothly glide crossing other boats through the narrow and winding canals of the island.

What a better metaphor for the times we are all living: to stand and look ahead!