Before and After Science

2012–2019

Twelve abstract paintings made within a single fixed format, with Brian Eno’s album of the same name as their backdrop.

Before and After Science began as an experiment in limitation. Anthony Scarzafava decided to work within a single format and a consistent size, creating one body of work under a defined set of conditions rather than allowing the scale and materials of each piece to determine its direction.

The series was made with Brian Eno's Before and After Science as its musical backdrop. The album became part of the environment in which the work was created, providing a recurring atmosphere and point of reference as the paintings developed. Rather than attempting to illustrate the music, Scarzafava allowed it to occupy the background of the process and influence the mood and pace of the work.

Eno's influence extends beyond the record itself. As one of the most influential record producers of his generation, his approach to sound, experimentation, and the creation of new environments has had a lasting impact on contemporary culture. His writing and books, and the ideas they present about creativity, systems, technology, art, and the world around us, provided another point of connection for the series.

The result is a collection built around a simple premise: one size, one series, one experiment, with music as its backdrop. By deliberately narrowing the parameters, Scarzafava created a framework in which variation, discovery, and experimentation could take place within a consistent visual language.

The series comprises 12 abstract paintings sharing a nearly uniform 22 × 22 inch format, created between 2012 and 2019.