A big hand for Italian artist’s call to arms on climate change
WHEN sculptor Lorenzo Quinn unveils his latest masterpiece at the 58th Venice Biennale this week, he intends to do more than pay homage to La Serenissima’s artistic heritage.
Quinn’s spectacular installation, Building Bridges, is certain to get people talking. It features six monumental human hands that rise nearly 50ft (15m) above the basin in the old shipyards of the Arsenale district.
The 52-year-old artist wants his eyecatching sculpture to remind political leaders about climate change and to take more action to stop it.
“We have to join hands and do something about it,” Quinn told The Daily Telegraph. “It is about the future of our children and future generations. It is about humanity.
“I think it’s people who change things and politicians will eventually listen to people. We hope to affect at least one person.”
Quinn says each pair of hands in the sculpture is designed to highlight values including love, hope and faith.
“Venice is the city of bridges. It is the perfect location to spread a message of world unity and peace.”
Quinn, the son of the Oscar-winning actor Anthony Quinn and his second wife Jolanda Addolori, was born in Rome before growing up in Italy and the US. “Italy is an open air museum. You can’t help but be affected by that,” he said.
The sculpture, made of resin fibre, will be launched at an event next week featuring Andrea Bocelli, the Italian opera singer.
A selection of the artist’s sculptures are also on display in London at the Halcyon Gallery until June 30.