Alessio Di Maio
UPSIDE/DOWN
Alessio Di Maio
Massa, Italy
UPSIDE/DOWN
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Product Details
This project was inspired by Stranger Things, but it goes beyond the series itself. It’s a reflection on the duality within all of us — the tension between light and darkness, creation and destruction, hope and despair.
UPSIDE represents the visible world, the part of us made of dreams, movement, and color. Its bright tones, glowing lines, and floating planets symbolize energy and rebirth — the decision to remain open, curious, and alive even when everything feels uncertain.
DOWN is the mirror image of that same reality, but consumed by shadows. The red lightning, dark clouds, and burning planet embody the inner chaos we all carry — the fears, anger, and pain that test our strength. It’s the side we rarely show, but that defines who we are when no one is watching.
Together, these two shoes tell one story — not about opposition, but about balance. There is no light without darkness, no courage without vulnerability. The border between the two isn’t a wall, but a mirror: it reflects the daily choice between surrendering to the dark or using it as fuel to rise again.
In my work, color becomes emotion - a language that connects thought and instinct. Through contrast and energy, 'UPSIDE/DOWN' speaks about the human condition itself: the constant fight to find meaning between chaos and clarity, pain and beauty.
It’s my way of saying that true creation doesn’t come from perfection, but from facing your own shadows — and still choosing to create light.
Read the full story of the artworkRefund Policy
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