Urs Fischer’s Contemporary Art in Piazza Signoria

The newest additions to one of Florence’s most historical squares have come crashing down. Concurrently with Biennial Antiques Fair, Urs Fisher, brought three statues to Piazza Signoria in effort to incorporate temporary works of art into Florence. His sculptures in the square include the large metal work, Big Clay and two wax statues of the curator of the exhibition, Francesco Bonami and the chairman of the antiques show, Fabrizio Moretti.

One of the two wax statues by the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio fell on October 6. The statues were designed to melt over the course of a month, but reached their demise before their expiration date.

No blame being placed on the artist, but there is an investigation of the construction and certification of the base that was commissioned to hold the fallen work. Apparently, the changing equilibrium of the piece caused the base to collapse, bringing the statue with it. In order to prevent the second statue from falling, it was temporarily removed.

The base was made in Carrara and was reported to have cost 20,000 euros.

Mayor Dario Nardella plans on identifying who is fully responsible for the collapsed work. Nardella said that there will be no change on the city’s cultural policies, despite the accident.

Fischer is the third contemporary artist to have his works displayed in Piazza Signoria.

To read more in Italian, visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site. (deanna carbone)

INSTALLATION IN THE SQUARE

A highly anticipated modern art project in conjunction with the International Biennal Antiques Fair (Biennale Internazionale di Antiquariato di Firenze) is an art installation by Swiss artist Urs Fischer. His work, which includes drawings, collages, and room-size installations, shows the influences of movements such as Neo-Dada, Lost Art, and Situationist International.

Fischer is also renowned internationally thanks to his sculpture at the 2011 Venice Biennale, a life-sized wax rendition of Giambologna’s monumental Rape of the Sabines at the Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signoria.  Through January 21, 2018, the square will host his 12-meter (39 ft.) totem-inspired statue Big Clay #4, a comment on creation of man and his individuality from birth, complete with an impression of Fischer’s fingerprint.

Two statues of figures, created by the artist as candles meant to slowly melt are situated between the copy of Michelangelo’s David and Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes near the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio.  One of these comments on mortality, past and present, is a colorful Fabrizio Moretti set against a monk-like figure, bringing to mind Savonarola (1452 – 1498) who saw his death in the square. (rosanna cirigliano)