How much did Gaetano Pesce's work cost in Naples?
The artwork of Gaetano Pesce installed in Piazza Municipio had a considerable cost for the city of Naples. Composed of two sculptures, the Pulcinella e The arrow in the heart, represents a significant tribute to the energy and vitality of the city of Napoli. Made within the project Contemporary Naples, this installation has become the subject of much public attention and discussion.
Gaetano Pesce's work and its meaning
Il Pulcinella di Gaetano Pesce, 12 meters high, installed in Napoli in Piazza Municipio, is a large new site-specific artistic installation composed of two sculptures in dialogue with each other: the Pulcinella stylized, cylindrical in shape, created by the artist (who passed away on April 3rd in New York), and The arrow in the heart, created posthumously. The two sculptures are placed side by side in the space occupied until a few months ago by the Venus of the Rags di Michelangelo Pistoletto, just in front of the Maschio Angioino.
As the Venus of the Rags, also Pulcinella of Fish is part of the project Contemporary Naples of the Municipality of Napoli, financed with the Poc Campania 2014-20 funds Strategic Plan for Culture and Cultural Heritage 2022-23, with a total budget of 2 million euros. The work represents many recurring themes in the poetics of Gaetano Pesce, including the feminine as the driving force of the project,aesthetics of the imperfect andattention to the body and its centrality. These themes also highlight the autobiographical value of the work and the artist's deep attachment to Napoli.
How much did the work cost?
The work of Gaetano Pesce had a total cost of approximately 200mila euros. Here's how the costs were broken down:
- 157mila euros for the service of setting up and dismantling the artistic installation of “You are something big” and for the supply of the work “The Arrow in the Heart”.
- 36mila euros for unarmed guard duty from October 7 to December 20, 2024, due to the arson attack that destroyed the Venus of the Rags.
- 92mila euros for the installation management service, including set-up, insurance, lighting of the work and ordinary maintenance. This amount was entrusted to the company Seagull Club srls.
After the death of the master, the rights to the projects of Gaetano Pesce and the ownership of his works have passed to the Gaetano Fish Summer. The company, at the request of the mayor, confirmed its willingness to continue with the project, entrusting the construction of the work to Luca Bertozzi, trusted operator. The arrow in the heart It was then created following the artist's drawings and technical specifications. For the sculpture Pulcinella, the Municipality had the right of exhibition only, while for The arrow in the heart has acquired full ownership and related rights, which will become part of the artistic heritage of the institution.
Cultural impact of the work
The work “You are something big” di Gaetano Pesce not only celebrates the energy and vitality of Napoli, but also acts as a catalyst for public discussion. Its form and meaning challenge convention, reflecting themes dear to the artist such as the transformation and dynamism of Neapolitan culture. The installation has attracted both praise and criticism, stimulating a lively debate on contemporary art and its role in public space.