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The simple color harmonies of the painting, Tutti Facciamo, meaning in Italian,
All We Do, tends to evoke a serene meditative response. Gimbolo is known for imparting many levels of symbolism in his paintings
despite the obvious charm of their colors and linear structure. In his painting, Tutti Facciamo, the cool calming colors of
nature are complimentary to the rich red of the structural images suggesting the constructs of human temporal existence. In
some areas of the painting the linear composition was intentionally allowed to appear rough and seemly struggling to take
shape. These material elements of our life seem to grow and take shape before our eyes and they vary one from the other in
that some seem to tower while others have fallen down upon themselves as if only their dreams and hopes remain. Some of the
forms seem to rise with high hopes but may in fact be on the verge of falling over at any moment. Others seem to remain in
place only by the sheer will of human desire. Such then is life. Such is all we dream, hope, and do.
With searing heat and power Gimbolo has painted, La Fiamma
di Spirito, which translates to The Spirit Flame. The artist is known for his vivid colors sculpted upon the canvas by applying
pure oil pigment with painting knives. The effect is much like the high pure hue of Van Gogh paintings and the symbolic abstractions
of Kandinsky or Klee. Interestingly, Gimbolo is also a master swordsman of many years, and this painting evokes feelings that
it is containing within it an exhilarating great force that seems like it may indeed have been cut and thrust into existence
with the masterstrokes of his saber. Slashing lines and colors like flames excite and echo that life force deep within each
of us. It is the power of our spirit and will to be. In La Vecchia Religione, the old ways of Italian spirituality, the spirit
flame is one of the most important parts of the sacred ritual and represents the divine spark of life, and the Great Mother
of us all. Thus the imagery of the spirit flame may have many and ever deeper meanings.
In Italian, Mandala di Vita means the mandala of life.
A mandala is a pictorial device used especially in eastern mysticism as an aid in meditation and profound spiritual contemplations
for awakening the soul. Buddhism is known for some quite elaborate mandalas but they may also be very simple like a Zen masters
brushwork depicting a circle to represent the nature of the immortal soul within all living beings. In his painting, Gimbolo
has used rich ochre pigment to suggest an old parchment scroll, yet this is not a physical object as the vibrancy of his color
seems to invoke the scroll upon which our life is written. This is one of the artists most profoundly mathematical paintings.
The simplicity of this painting symbolizes that which is too sublime and profound to express. The mystic law of the triangle,
the golden mean, the number pi, the symbol of infinity, the physical circle which leads and is one with the spiritual circle,
and many such symbolic colors and lines merge into simplicity. The horizon line is not horizontal any more than our human
reality is only a fragment of true ever-present universal actuality. The soul vibrating beyond the speed of light, what does
it see and what can it not know?
The painting, Concerto, by Gimbolo, is a vivid and bold impression
of the boundless joy evoked by great music. One is accustom to hearing music but in his painting, Gimbolo seeks to express
what one may see and feel from music. Here one can see the notes and connected chords and melody of joyful abandon in his
painting. It is even the moment of the first music and the primal sound of the creation of the universe. Gimbolo explains
that he often feels like a Shaman among the ancient cave dwellers of our human history, as he attempts to express new ways
of perception beyond the shadowy cave images of our singular and solitary world.
La Diva, means in Italian, The Goddess and refers to Gaia, the model
of womankind and of the living earth, idealized in ancient Roman culture. The artist has selected colors and contours to express
the great Mother Nature and spirit of life. As with all of Gimbolo paintings, there is nothing dismissively obvious and simple
here. Earth tones suggest the earth and our physical selves, with golden moonbeam and vibrant blue atmospheric hues in a triadic
composition surrounding a curious orange-red triangle in the center. Again, the artist usually includes mathematical components
in nearly all of his paintings for those able to discern them. This painting echoes the law of the triangle and the golden
mean implanted within it to express the inherent nature of the universe and existence, for example.
Il Vaggio, means in Italian, The Journey. If life is a journey then
this painting seems to express that the journey can feel frightfully imposing sometimes. This is perhaps one of Gimbolos most
powerful paintings as the objective beauty he always offers us, and the mathematical linear compositions that intrigue us,
are interrupted by an underlying and highly charged psychological drama in progress. Beautiful as it is, this is a psychological
portrait not simply of the artist but each of us. One senses the struggle within all of us to live our lives and not be overcome
by the mental, physical, and spiritual demands of the journey we call life.
Asked about this painting, the artist only said, "How
long the search and how rare to find what is true, deep, and profound love." If the painting, Blue Moon, seems suggestively
simple as to this works meaning or the intent of the artist, like all of his paintings, one must look deeper in a meditative
reflection to discover the underlying depth and beauty of his lyrical abstractions. In all his paintings, the contrast of
bold linear structure and color composition is carefully constructed, as is each stroke the artist imparts on canvas. Everything
has meaning.
No bright and easy seduction is here as in other Gimbolo paintings,
as this is one of his profoundly mathematical works and seems to beckon us to deep and dangerous depths of our minds, heart,
and soul. In Italian, the title means, "the binding" and refers to the web we weave binding and trying to balance the elements
of our life in harmony. The good and bad in our lives weigh upon us and we ever endeavor to keep it all together. The artist
says of this painting, "I too, struggle to keep it all together upon those rainy dark nights."
Una Vita Ricca, translates to A Rich life in Italian. Gimbolo created
this oil painting with a rich full-bodied texture of primary colors emphasizing a triangular composition. In many cultures
it was customary to make quilts that would reflect the history and important elements of the family. A quilt would then be
used to symbolically and literally warm and comfort the individual family member. Thus, in this vivid painting, perhaps Gimbolo
seeks to evoke a subjective impression of the pulse and patchwork of trying to make and keep a well-lived personal life and
a family together.
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