Naples, Pistoletto's Venus of rags on fire. Completely destroyed

The monumental version of Michelangelo Pistoletto ’s Venus of rags installed in late June in Naples ’ Piazza Municipio as part of the Napoli Contemporanea 2023 festival lasted only a few days. The work was in fact completely destroyed by a fire that broke out shortly after 5:30 a.m.: videos of the work engulfed in flames are circulating online.

Firefighters responded to the scene following reports from citizens. At the moment it is not known what was the root cause of the fire, which could possibly also be of arson origin. The City Council had wanted to install the Venus of Rags in City Hall Square as a sign of dialogue, to stimulate participation and interest in culture. Evidently this was not the case. And now all that remains in place of the work is a pile of ashes and the skeleton that gave shape to the rags.

Among the first reactions was that of writer Maurizio De Giovanni, who wrote: “Useless beings, infamous damned thugs, the ball and chain of a city that tries with all its might to be the capital that it is. I hope with all my heart that there are surveillance cameras, that they catch you and throw you in jail. And that no one has anything to say.”

“It is a bad page for Naples,” writes journalist Arnaldo Capezzuto. “I remember Mimmo Paladino’s ’Salt Mountain’ placed in Piazza del Plebiscito in the early 1990s was adopted by the scugnizzi of the Spanish Quarter. With small glasses they would pick up salt and take it home to season their food. An example of a contemporary work of art becoming a food of the people. Such was not the case with the Venus of rags. Those smoldering remains, unbeknownst to them become decadent works, even more make us think.”

Naples, Pistoletto's Venus of rags on fire. Completely destroyed

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