When I was in Florence recently I wandered absent mindedly into the Vicolo dell’Oro, not far from the Ponte Vecchio.
I looked up to see these creatures scaling the walls.
There was a sign describing the art installation on the window of the Farmacia Ponte Vecchio…
It was commissioned by the Gallery Art Hotel and created by artist and architect Simone D’Auria as a tribute to the city of Florence in beautifying this tiny and precious square.
The work of art represents an imaginary world populated by white creatures with a human body and the head of an animal.
18 creatures with almost identical bodies, but with different animal heads, animate the Vicolo dell’Oro, climbing the facade of the Gallery Art Hotel, hovering in the air like trapeze artists between the Lungarno Collection hotel, stopping as curious spectators in front of the Leica store.
The rhino represents Alessandro de Medici, to symbolise his strength and strong will.
The goal is to send a positive message, an invitation to continue to move forward whatever the challenge may be, to climb up, to be innovative and overcome one’s limits.
I’m not sure whether it is a permanent installation or a temporary exhibition. I will drop by when I return to Florence to see.
I love this! I especially love the ones hanging from the wire. Beautiful.
By: The Daily Cure on January 5, 2015
at 9:41 am
I thought it was delightful. The shadows made it diffucult to get good photos, but I thought it was worth sharing.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 5, 2015
at 10:07 am
Wow, so creative, fun and inspiring. Florence is a wonderful place for embracing the old and the new. Thanks for sharing Debra, hope it’s still there in Spring, I would really like to see this. Happy New Year ☺️
By: Andrea Waterhouse on January 5, 2015
at 9:44 am
It is great to see new art in this wonderful old city. I hope it stays for a while too.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 5, 2015
at 10:08 am
I hope it’s a permanent display, I’d really like to see that.
By: Yvonne on January 5, 2015
at 9:45 am
According to a comment below it is still there, so maybe it will be around for a while.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 5, 2015
at 10:09 am
Hi Deb, hope all is good with you and yours, saw this just last week on our way back from dinner and my first thought was that the Vino Rosso must have been much stronger than I first thought…. but thanks for doing a bit of investigating, it clarifies the situation no end. Happy and healthy 2015 from Michelle & I
xx
By: Mark Devery on January 5, 2015
at 9:46 am
I’m pleased to hear that it is still around. I will be back in a few weeks, so I will stop by for another look.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 5, 2015
at 10:10 am
This is amazing and so creative… I loved too dear Debra, Thanks and Love, nia
By: niasunset on January 5, 2015
at 9:50 am
It is fun, I’m glad I came across it.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 5, 2015
at 10:10 am
It is wonderful to see contemporary art in such a beautiful, historical location. Looks like a funinstallation and encourages people to look up, we spend so much time looking down at screens now.
By: twoblackdoggies on January 5, 2015
at 9:53 am
I have to constantly have to remind myself to look up in these gorgeous cities. There is so much to see in Florence.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 5, 2015
at 10:11 am
I love this, you’ve captured them well.
By: arlene on January 5, 2015
at 10:17 am
It is a very interesting installation.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 5, 2015
at 10:22 am
Great initiative, full of imagination!
By: Mulino Dominillo on January 5, 2015
at 11:50 am
It is a lot of fun, perhaps it will still be there when you return.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 5, 2015
at 12:35 pm
Definitely different, creative, and Italian.
By: aFrankAngle on January 5, 2015
at 12:38 pm
A new surprise in an old piazza.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 5, 2015
at 8:32 pm
Reblogged this on Shoreline Study Abroad.
By: cfanthony on January 5, 2015
at 11:16 pm
These are amazing! So unusual but I really think they are cool. I love the angles of your shots too Debra! You are a great photographer.
By: thirdeyemom on January 6, 2015
at 2:14 am
The piazza is tiny and the sun was in the wrong place, but the photos aren’t too bad. It is a fun installation.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 6, 2015
at 9:29 am
Fantastic innovative sculptures. Very thought provoking. According to turismo.intoscana.it, the installation was from June 2014 until January 2015. Thanks for sharing these great photos as always.
By: italia4ever on January 6, 2015
at 4:00 am
It looks as though I will not see it again, I won’t be back until February.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 6, 2015
at 9:29 am
Wonderful! I love these brilliant surrises and sense of wonder and smiles they bring to the world and miss them in Perth. Allthough, lately some have been popping up in the city centre.
In Antwerpentherused to be plaster ‘ghosts’ on the roof tops of old buildings in the centre, quite spectacular at night.
it is great people make these artworks, even f they are not allowed to stay.
By: Nicolet on January 6, 2015
at 2:35 pm
It is fun to come upon something unexpected when you wander in a city. Florence is full of fascinating things, but new ones are always welcome.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 6, 2015
at 9:29 pm
Such an interesting find. What an amazing blue sky. Super photos
By: Lyn on January 6, 2015
at 6:42 pm
It was a gorgeous day in Florence, as you can see by those skies.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 6, 2015
at 9:29 pm
Only in Florence! What a clever and highly creative idea.
By: Just Add Attitude on January 6, 2015
at 7:15 pm
I like the way Italy mixes the new with the old.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 6, 2015
at 9:30 pm
How absolutely wonderful this is.Thanks for sharing. I do hope it’s a permanent fixture. it will raise many smiles I’m sure. 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on January 6, 2015
at 8:42 pm
I don’t think it is permanent, but I am sure it has brightened the day for many people already.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 6, 2015
at 9:31 pm
Oh my, that’s so weird! I love it 😀
By: Lily Lau on January 7, 2015
at 12:29 am
I like it too, people are very inventive.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 7, 2015
at 9:57 pm
What a delightful art installation to stumble upon. We were in Florence in November and it was just too short a stay 🙁
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on January 7, 2015
at 8:24 am
You need to spend more time in Florence. I go regularly and find something new every time.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 7, 2015
at 9:58 pm
Hi Deb…I’m back!!! And it feels good. Now this reminds me of the Irish dance group, “Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre”…who performed the Rite of Spring here in Brisbane in 2013. Innovative, fun and loads of energy….let’s hope the installation stays. It says all the right things. I think its fab!
Looking forward to following your adventures again.
Ciao
Robyn
By: Paris Rendez-Vous and Beyond on January 7, 2015
at 9:34 am
I think the installation is only temporary and about to go, which is a pity, I was hoping to see it again next month when I return to Italy.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 7, 2015
at 9:56 pm
What an interesting display! Their bodies are very realistic. Those climbing up the side of the building are very effective.
By: timelessitaly on January 8, 2015
at 4:30 am
They look great don’t they. I am glad I stumbled across them.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 8, 2015
at 5:48 am
They remind me of the work of an english artist called Sophie Ryder, love their energetic poses and modern lithe bodies 🙂 What fun!
By: Joanna on January 10, 2015
at 8:17 am
It is fun…great to see new things in Florence.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 10, 2015
at 9:08 am
A very unique find! So so cool! And Iove what it represents. Cool to have that modern creativity to couple the ancient building of the city.
By: rommel on January 11, 2015
at 7:02 pm