Spoon, I Eat Earth: Persico Teams Up with Ferragamo on Art Installation in Florence
Sixty-three rotomoulded regenerated plastic spoons, each one-and-a-half metres high, embellishing the façade of a stately Florentine hotel.
These are some of the striking elements of a new art installation, “Spoon, I Eat Earth”, by the Italian architect and designer Simone D’Auria. The work is currently on display at the Gallery Hotel Art in Vicolo dell’Oro, a short distance from the famous Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) in the centre of Florence.
Inspired by the theme of Milan’s Expo 2015 “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, the project focuses on the “Spoon”, a symbol of nourishment and one of the oldest utensils used by humans. The installation was commissioned by Ferragamo Group’s Lungarno Collection, a luxury hotel management company and owner of the Gallery Hotel Art
To bring his vision to life, Mr. D’Auria, who is also the art director of the Lungarno Collection, turned to the well-known rotomoulding expert Persico Industrial of Nembro, Italy. Persico not only became a sponsor, but also provided the key tools to realize the large plastic spoons. Over the years, Persico has collaborated with numerous artists to give shape to works of art using innovative materials and technologies.
For the “Spoon, I Eat Earth” project, Persico first scanned a sample of the spoon provided by Mr. D’Auria and generated data files. After certain details of the spoon were modified on request of the artist, a polyurethane model was made.
Then Persico prepared a CNC-milled aluminium mould for the production of the spoons.
Finally, the actual 1.5-metre spoons were rotomoulded with Persico’s moulds using regenerated polyethylene plastic.
The 63 huge spoons positioned on the front of the hotel in a target motif – red ones encircled by white – are a sight to behold.
The 1.5-metre spoon is named “Bruno” in honour of the artist Bruno Munari and his artwork, a source of inspiration for Mr. D’Auria. What’s more, the recycled plastic Bruno Spoon is available separately as a delightful art object: a spoon to stimulate the desire to “eat life” – to nourish one’s life not only through food but also by doing or inventing something new.
Additionally, the spoon highlights the relationship of the individual with the Earth and the concept of hunger in the broad sense – hunger for life, knowledge, liberty and experience.
