Volcanic stone sentinels rise in Naples, echoing the city's fiery foundations.

17 hours ago7 min read3 comments

In a powerful dialogue with the earth, a new installation in Naples positions totemic sculptures of volcanic stone as silent witnesses to the city's volatile history. Each form is carved directly from the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, the same force that entombed Pompeii, creating a contemplative landscape that bridges deep geological time and the vibrant chaos of urban life.The use of lava stone is deeply symbolic; this material, born of destruction, has been used for centuries by Neapolitans to build their homes and pave their streets, forging a tangible link between the artwork and the city's very DNA. More than a static display, the installation is a stark environmental commentary, urging viewers to see the interconnected narratives of rock strata and human existence.As climate change accelerates, these stone sentinels stand as a potent metaphor, compelling us to assemble our own fragments of observation—rising temperatures, erratic weather—into a coherent understanding of our precarious place within a dynamic planetary system. While echoing the tradition of land art, the work is grounded in a distinctly Italian, historically-loaded context, offering a quiet yet urgent plea to read the landscape as the primary text for our survival.

#featured

#site-specific installation

#volcanic stone

#totemic sculptures

#Naples

#art exhibition

#contemporary art

#landscape art

#Tanat Ranieri

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