Volcanic stone totems rise in a silent dialogue with Naples' historic landscape

8 hours ago7 min read1 comments

In Naples, a city forever shaped by the presence of Mount Vesuvius, a new site-specific installation emerges from the very earth that defines its history. These totemic sculptures, carved from volcanic lava stone, stand as silent protagonists in an urban drama, their forms a direct response to the region's deep geological and cultural narratives.Artist Tanat Ranieri has orchestrated these rugged forms into a composition that speaks to the enduring cycle of destruction and rebirth, a story written in ash and fire. Each piece, hewn from the material of past eruptions, carries the weight of millennia, its textures a testament to cataclysm and resilience.The installation transforms the urban environment into an open-air theater, where the daily life of Naples becomes the audience. The work's power lies in its stark juxtaposition—the raw, untamed essence of volcanic material set against the sculptor's deliberate hand, creating a profound duet between chaos and control.Echoing the monumental gestures of land artists like Robert Smithson, the installation is nevertheless uniquely Italian, rooted in a tradition of integrating art into public spaces. It is a spectacle without words, a narrative etched in stone that invites viewers to become part of the performance, leaving a lasting impression long after the final curtain of dusk falls.

#featured

#sculpture

#installation

#volcanic stone

#Naples

#art

#landscape

#site-specific

#Tanat Ranieri

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