Ferro e macerie. English translation

English translation of my previous post:

An exposition of an artist still unknown in Italy. Far from “let’s go for walk and see a show”. An exposition to think and reflect, that struck me to the heart.

Ali Wakwak, portrait

Alì Wakwak is a Lybian sculptor. The most famous as far as we know. At the age of 66 this is the first show in Italy. He began as a wood craftsman and with wood he prcoeed his artistic career until the 2006 when he discovered iron. He had a very hard time under the dictatrship of Gheddafi. His life passed through prison and family losses.

After the end of the war in 2011 he deicided to use abandoned militar equipements for a series of works. Iron, shells, scraps of abandoned weapons, signs of past violence; Alì Wakwak take this matter and reverts it into human figures and animals. Spectral but alive figures, they retain sick germs of war. Symbols of a past and hope. But still with echoes of pain and death.

 

Alì Wakwak, Anime di Materia, Complesso del Vittoriano, Roma

In addition to the figures made by bullets and bolts, the most catching opera is a wall made of helmets. It moves along the path between guilt and indignation. Excavated, processed, humanized but inhuman. On the top of this wall a face carved in wood, almost an icon of pain.

Alì Wakwak, Wall of Identity

Poetic are “The violinist” and “The Owl”, as they tryes to make us forget for a while the origin of the material.

Alì Wakwak, Violinist

Alì Wakwak, The owl

 

Beatiful the setting. White walls and copper pipes on the ceiling. I suggest to everyone to go and to know this intense artist.

Beg your pardon for the poor pictures. When I visited the exposition I only had my smartphone with me!

The only pic that is not mine is the artist portrait.

Here below some links to get more information about the exposition and the sculptor:
http://mashallahnews.com/?p=7388

http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/02/libyan-war-amazing-sculptures/