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Arte all'Arte 2004 curated
by Achille Bonito Oliva, James Putnam
Associazione Arte Continua,
S.Gimignano (SI), Italy
Choosen place: Fonti Medievali,
S.Gimignano (SI)
Materials: drawings on ceramic
Time's respite
The project for the
ancient public fountains of San Gimignano draws inspiration from
the silence of the place, the meeting of wilderness and water,
and Time. Looking at the fountains and the walls covered with
moss, they appeared to be still breathing the values of the Middle
Ages, when water was viewed as a sacred, life-giving gift.
I could almost glance
at the face of Time, as if it had been resting here for ages,
undisturbed among the greenery close by the remote springs. An
old face came to my mind, wrinkled like earth baked by the sun,
a face that knows the relationships between earth, sun, water,
with eyes glistening with an universe of history and life.
Looking at the basin
I could almost see the tears in those eyes, tears are water too
and, like immersing in water, regenerating. Thinking about that
face, I colored it blue like the night and white like the moon.
Mouthless, ears covered, with only the eyes watching time pass
by. The body is wrapped in robes, a reminder of women of old times
washing clothes at the fountains.
A foot can be seen,
with veins blue like streams of water. The figure is laying on
the moss, as if resting.
While the work is not
intended to be permanent, for me it is important to relate it
to the location as if it was: with time, grass would start growing
at random between the masonry and tiles. Only then I could consider
my project complete: that ancient face and body becoming fertile
ground, accepted by the universal laws of nature.
Drawing for"Time's
respite"
private collection
Time's respite, 2004.
Ceramic, cm 500x250 - 200"x
100"
collection of Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Raffaele de Grada, S. Gimignano, SI. Permanent Installation
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