AGI – The Italian Installation at Bryant Park, “The Guardians: Hero & Superhero”, by Antonio Pio Saracinocarry out ten years. And to celebrate the event A retrospective of the Apulian architect, sculptor and designer is taking place in Manhattan who has been living and working in the Big Apple for years.
The works E Projects of the last decade by Saracino. The retrospective is hosted by a historic gallery founded by Gerardus Widdershoven in 1974 and offers a stage for the best of Art Deco and contemporary art, from sculpture to design and ceramics, with one goal: to enhance a person’s identity shape the city and community.
It was 2013 when Saracino, whose works are part of the permanent collections of the Center Pompidou in Paris, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Art and Design in New York and the Maas in Sydney, Australia, among others, was presented with two great challenges: Produce an icon of Italy to celebrate the Year of Italian Culture in New York and create a project to take place in Bryant Park, one of Manhattan’s most famous spots.
his idea”,The Guardians: Hero and Superhero‘ encompassed both challenges. “Hero” was donated to the United States by the Italian government to celebrate the conclusion of the event. “Superhero” was commissioned by the owner of Number 3 Bryant Park. The first presented an interpretation of Michelangelo’s David, the symbolic defender of Florence. Crafted from Carrara marble, “Hero” is the synthesis of classic and contemporary work, made of solid material and digital lines. Michelangelo’s masterpiece has been decomposed, brightened. As tall as the original, 5 meters and 17 centimeters, but lighter (less than five tons versus the original’s 5.6 tons). “Superhero” balances his monumental pose to guard 41st Street.
Ten years later, the two iconic protectors of New York still dominate the Manhattan scene as Marvel superheroes They mark the union between the United States and Italy. While the two “superheroes” show those who choose to live or were born in New York the only way: to go forward and never give up. Ten years after its installation, that message is still there, stronger than ever
