Burlicchio

The image depicts the carnival mask of Pontecorvo, a subject that has sparked much debate regarding its origin and meaning. Visually, the mask evokes elements of Harlequin, Pinocchio, and Burlamacco, blending familiar features into a figure that appears to hold either a club or perhaps a claw, adding to the ambiguity of its role. Through this representation, Burlicchio serves as a form of collective exorcism, symbolizing the processing of post-war trauma. The image suggests an attempt to bring to life an entity that, until then, had been floating in the air, waiting to find its own gaze.