THE MADONNA OF CARE, GELA, 2023
This work shows a possible direction, taking care pf places and therefore of the people living in them. I really appreciate the effort the association Civico 111 is taking in this city and thank Roberto Collodoro for inviting me to take part in this important initiative, marking a turning point for Gela, a place with a noticeable scar – the refinery, which generated jobs and money when operational, but at the same time distributed pain, illnesses and death. The refinery shut down some years ago changing the demographics of this area forever, with a progressive depopulation. When you arrive in Gela, you can immediately feel this emptiness. So I chose the architectural void left by a fallen building to paint this icon, ispired by the Madonna of the Alemanna, a Byzantine icon of extraordinary craftmanship kept in the Cathedral. It is my own interpretation of a Madonna with Child, the metaphor of a territory seeking a caring mother, when this mother is actually us, in charge and able to take care of this baby, who is ourselves too. Up on the wall a phrase stands out: “Let Us Hope it is Love”. My initial idea was “We Think it is Healty” – referring to babies who are born in these areas tortured by industries, factories and refineries producing death. I chose “Let Us Hope it is Love”, because care is one of the facets of love. This care, this love, is surely a binding force. I thank most of all the Gela community and my brotherhood, Nino Carlotta and Danilo Alongi.
This work was produced in the “UE Eventi Urbani” festival.
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