Naples, Venus of rags finds new location in the city. In its place a work by Gaetano Pesce

After more than five months on display in Naples’ Piazza Municipio, Michelangelo Pistoletto ’s Venus of rags is preparing to leave its current location to find a new home in the city. In fact, the work is ready to be restored and then exhibited at the Church of San Severo al Pendino, a symbolic place located along Via Duomo, the Museum Street. The church, already at the center of a series of exhibitions and contemporary art projects planned through 2024, will offer the Venus of rags a location that will allow regular public enjoyment, underscoring the importance of public art as a tool for urban regeneration and cultural promotion.

Work on the work’s dismantling will begin on August 19, followed by restoration and conservation by Fondazione Pistoletto - Cittadellarte. Following up on a repeatedly expressed wish, on July 8 Pistoletto made a formal proposal to donate the work to the City of Naples, thus confirming the deep bond that binds him to the city. At the conclusion of the necessary administrative process, which is still ongoing, the Venus will thus become part of the heritage of the entity and the work, whose estimated value is 1 million euros, will be able to find a new and permanent home in the city.

“Art and culture are fundamental elements for urban regeneration and social cohesion, and Naples, with its millennial history and contemporary vibrancy, is the ideal place to experiment with new forms of artistic expression,” said Mayor Gaetano Manfredi. "The Venus of rags represented a concrete example of how art can transform and enrich the urban fabric. We are committed to supporting and promoting initiatives like Napoli Contemporanea to ensure that Naples continues to be a crossroads of creativity and innovation, a cultural reference point at the international level."

"The Venus of rags has two souls in it, on the one hand Venus, fruitful beauty that spans all times and permeates the human spirit, and on the other hand rags, which are disintegration and ruin. The classical icon of Venus embraces, welcomes, regenerates and gives new life to rags by introducing them into the spiritual mythology of art. In short, the work is a symbol of balance and harmony that we can all share and put into practice. Naples is a city that has extraordinary venerability, is illuminated by art, and is simultaneously opposed by shadows of lacerating decay. That is why I want the work to remain in Naples and serve everyone to work on regeneration, to take back the rags and turn them into works of art. And I am happy that it will be housed in a building nestled in the historic heart of the city, the Church of San Severo al Pendino, which reflects its intrinsic spirituality," said Michelangelo Pistoletto.

Replacing Michelangelo Pistoletto’s Venus of rags will be Gaetano Pesce’s last autographed work, entitled Tu si ’na cosa grande. Conceived by the artist before his death on April 3, the work represents a profound act of love for the city of Naples and its culture. The exhibition of the work, curated by Silvana Annicchiarico, will begin Oct. 9 as part of the Napoli Contemporanea public art program, strongly desired by Mayor Gaetano Manfredi and curated by Vincenzo Trione.

Naples, Venus of rags finds new location in the city. In its place a work by Gaetano Pesce

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