A fire, suspected to be an act of arson, has devastated the open-air display of “Venus of the Rags,” an iconic work by celebrated Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, in the heart of Naples, as per a report from local authorities.
An ongoing police inquiry strives to determine the cause of the inferno that sparked at dawn, as outlined in an official press statement. Following the firefighting operation, the site was isolated from the public.
In response to the incident, Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi expressed deep distress over the “heinous act of violence that leaves us in shock,” highlighting that such acts of destruction will not halt the progression of art. Plans to restore the damaged artwork are underway.
Manfredi announced, “We will kickstart a fundraising campaign to ensure public involvement in this reconstruction process.”
“Naples stands for beauty and renewal, while such destructive acts reflect a stark minority,” the Mayor added.
Pistoletto, he shared, was deeply pained by the incident but viewed it as an opportunity for regeneration.
Antonio De Iesu, Naples Councilor for Security, stated that police are scrutinizing CCTV footage to help identify those responsible.
The “Venus of the Rags” was first crafted by Pistoletto in 1967. It featured a statue of Venus – the Roman deity of love, sex, beauty, and fertility, juxtaposed with a pile of rags the artist used for cleaning his “Mirror Paintings,” as stated on his official website.
This recent monumental rendition of the historic “Venus of Rags,” explicitly designed for Naples and unveiled in Piazza Municipio (Town Hall Square) on June 28, bears testament to Pistoletto’s original vision. Various versions of this artwork are displayed in galleries and museums worldwide.
Dubbed an iconic 20th-century artwork and Pistoletto’s signature piece, the “Venus of the Rags” signifies the contrast between classical art’s enduring allure and the contemporary’s temporary nature, as per a June 28 press statement.
As part of the “Napoli Contemporanea 2023” (Contemporary Naples) exhibition, the ‘Venus of the Rags’ was the inaugural installation intended to promote contemporary art throughout the city, reported SkyTG24, CNN’s affiliate, on Wednesday.
Pistoletto had previously commented on his artwork, “Venus symbolizes contemporary humanity, challenged to showcase its finest qualities.”
Regrettably, this incident is not the first of its kind recently where invaluable artwork has suffered extensive damage. In 2022, a sacred cave art site in southern Australia, with artwork dating back 22,000 years, was desecrated by vandals, profoundly affecting the local indigenous community.
That same year, to comment on art’s value, British artist Damien Hirst set fire to thousands of his distinctive “spot” paintings following the issuance of corresponding NFTs.
In 2020, an art critic, Avelina Lésper, accidentally shattered an installation by Gabriel Rico in a Mexico City gallery when she placed a soda can near the piece.
The destruction of Michelangelo Pistoletto’s iconic ‘Venus of the Rags’ highlights the vulnerability of public art installations and raises questions on measures to safeguard such works. While art’s exposure to the public sphere opens up avenues for greater cultural dialogue and accessibility, it also subjects it to the risk of vandalism. However, as the art community rallies behind the reconstruction of ‘Venus,’ it becomes clear that the spirit of creativity continues to be resilient in the face of adversity.
