Michele Ciacciofera

The work “Altar of Time and Dry Water” is a monumental sculpture composed of eight totems made of sandstone, carved and stacked according to the shapes shaped by river water and time and fixed on a base, also made of stone, on which eight circular cups have been carved.

The sculpture, which is located in Fanano, in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, in the Leo Creek River Park symbolizes the deep connection between nature, time and spirituality. The artist describes the work as a set of “stone giants,” in which the spirituality of nature dwells, born from the collaboration between nature and man.

Eight giants endowed with sacredness that through their number recall the infinite and the continuous cycle of life, just like the flow of the river. The cups carved on the base evoke ancient rituals related to water. Three monoliths that serve as stone benches offer visitors a space to contemplate the work in total immersion in the greenery.

The work also aims to send a strong message about environmental challenges, particularly the need to re-establish an ethical and spiritual relationship with nature. Michele Ciacciofera reminds that water and stone are fundamental to human evolution and recalls Nelson Mandela's thought: water is a universal right, essential for the future of humanity.

As well as a sculpture, it is a contemporary symbol of ecological awareness, a legacy to be protected for future generations.

Curator : Bianca Cerrina Feroni