Vandals wreaked havoc in Naples as they set fire to and completely destroyed a groundbreaking artwork by renowned Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday outside Naples’ City Hall. Following the extinguishing of the flames, only a charred frame remained of Pistoletto’s installation titled “Venus of the Rags,” which had been on display since June 28.
The artwork featured a large plaster neoclassical nude Venus, inspired by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen’s 19th-century masterpiece “Venus with Apple,” meticulously picking through a mountain of rags. Pistoletto had created various versions of “Venus of the Rags” over the years. The initial version, crafted in 1967, consisted of a concrete or cement Venus adorned with mica to produce a dazzling surface. Subsequent iterations utilized plaster casts of the statue, while another was made from Greek marble containing mica, as revealed by the Tate Gallery, a custodian of one of the pieces.
Pistoletto addressed the possible motives behind this act of vandalism in an interview with the Corriere della Sera daily newspaper. He speculated that there could be numerous reasons, emphasizing that his work represents the need for rejuvenation and the pursuit of balance and harmony between the realms of beauty and rampant consumerism, which he perceives as catastrophic. The 90-year-old artist despairingly noted, “The world is already engulfed in flames, and it is the same destructive spirits responsible for both war and setting fire to the Venus.”
Recognized as a painter, object artist, and art theorist, Pistoletto stands as a prominent figure of the Italian Arte Povera movement that emerged during the late 1960s and early 1970s. This influential artistic movement aimed to challenge and confront the political, industrial, and cultural establishment.
The destruction of Pistoletto’s artwork is not only a tragic event but also a glaring reminder of the vulnerability of artistic expression in today’s society. It underscores the importance of safeguarding and appreciating the beauty and meaning encapsulated within such creations.
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