A giant installation by the late
designer, sculptor and architect Gaetano Pesce is causing a stir
in his native Naples with locals, tourists and Web users making
wry comments on its allegedly phallic appearance, especially
when viewed from behind.
The 12-metre-tall work by Pesce, who died in New York aged 83 in
April, is a 'revisitation' of the costume of the classic
Neapolitan commedia dell'arte character Pulcinella, with two red
hearts pierced by an arrow.
It is called, in Neapolitan dialect, 'Tu si ' na cosa grande'
(You Are A Big Thing).
It has risen in Piazza Municipio, near the iconic castle Maschio
Angioino, for a few days now but will be formally inaugurated by
officials including Mayor Gaetano Manfredi Wednesday night.
"I think that contemporary art and contemporary installations
should spur debate," said Manfredi on the fuss the work has
caused.
"So the fact that it is being discussed means that the work has
achieved its goal".
The mayor recalled that the artist, Pesce. "was one of the great
world artists, and of Neapolitan origin, who has unfortunately
passed away and this is the last work he designed, a work that
has left a mark, that has the city talking and for us this is a
positive fact".
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