Deposition with Stalagmite Ruggero from Grotta Gigante

“Deposition with Stalagmite Ruggero from Grotta Gigante”
400 x 300 cm, Acrylic on recycled PVC, 2012

In “Deposition with Stalagmite Ruggero from Grotta Gigante,” the artist fuses disparate elements to create a spectacular and disconcerting composition, evoking a surrealist dream or a hallucinatory vision. This monumental work, painted in acrylic on recycled PVC, combines classical images of the deposition of Christ with natural and contemporary elements, creating a visual tension between the sacred and the profane, the natural and the artificial.

At the center of the work, a reclining figure evokes Christ being taken down from the cross, a familiar pose in depictions of the Passion. However, this figure is surrounded by unexpected symbols: medieval horsemen riding vigorously across the scene, a towering stalagmite from the Grotta Gigante, and even a gigantic head turned upside down, its fixed gaze seemingly encompassing the viewer. Each element of this complex composition seems to emerge from different worlds, but they are cleverly juxtaposed to interact on a flat surface.

Dark, earthy colours, mixed with brighter touches and bursts of light, create a dreamlike and mysterious atmosphere. Recycled PVC, as a support, adds a contemporary texture and a physical reminder of everyday materials, transformed here into a canvas for artistic expression. The figure of the stalagmite, Ruggero, like a natural totem, anchors the composition in an earthly and geological reality, while evoking mystical depths.

The inclusion of elements such as the full moon, flowers, and an oversized wasp suggest a collision between themes of life, death, and changing nature. These symbols enrich the visual narrative, inviting the viewer to interpret this chaotic and symbolic scene. The work, through its massive scale and mix of styles and eras, becomes a reflection on art, time, and transformation.

“Deposition with Stalagmite Ruggero from Grotta Gigante” is a complex meditation on the duality of human existence—between the earthly and the divine, the natural and the supernatural, the sacred and the secular. The work challenges us to reflect on our own perceptions of the world and how we navigate between different realities, often in conflict but intimately connected.