
Mythical Diary
Sculptures from the Farnese Collection
Five Continents Editions (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 6. February 2018
Book
Hardback
160 pages
978-88-7439-801-0 (ISBN)
Description
Mythical Diary is a visual journey through the classical sculpture of Museo Archeologico
Nazionale di Napoli. It is a physical engagement with the marble bodies of myth.
Through his black and white photography, Luigi Spina disassembles the limbs of the sculptures,
emphasising their curves and hidden eroticism, humanising them to establish a dialogue with
the observer.
A sculpture is the sign of eternal, unchanging beauty: the only real evidence of the many lives
that have passed and come to an end leaving a profound mark in the story of many other
existences. For Spina, with his own vision of sculpture, a statue of Aphrodite is not merely a
stereotypical portrayal of myth. In it are gathered the anxieties, dreams, hopes and joys of all
those who have set eyes on her and dreamed or studied her. In a way, classical sculpture is
profoundly present in our veins, in our very breath.
The project takes the form of an imaginary diary covering fifteen days. But this is only an
ephemeral period of time, a convention. The whole work developed over a period of days
and months amounting to years, always in contact with the circumscribed space made of
myriad lives and stories, which we call a museum.
In Mythical Diary, Spina attempts to make classical sculpture interact with the viewer's desire
to be a part of this ancient world that has always influenced our way of life, our culture and
our society, proving itself to be contemporary with any period.
Nazionale di Napoli. It is a physical engagement with the marble bodies of myth.
Through his black and white photography, Luigi Spina disassembles the limbs of the sculptures,
emphasising their curves and hidden eroticism, humanising them to establish a dialogue with
the observer.
A sculpture is the sign of eternal, unchanging beauty: the only real evidence of the many lives
that have passed and come to an end leaving a profound mark in the story of many other
existences. For Spina, with his own vision of sculpture, a statue of Aphrodite is not merely a
stereotypical portrayal of myth. In it are gathered the anxieties, dreams, hopes and joys of all
those who have set eyes on her and dreamed or studied her. In a way, classical sculpture is
profoundly present in our veins, in our very breath.
The project takes the form of an imaginary diary covering fifteen days. But this is only an
ephemeral period of time, a convention. The whole work developed over a period of days
and months amounting to years, always in contact with the circumscribed space made of
myriad lives and stories, which we call a museum.
In Mythical Diary, Spina attempts to make classical sculpture interact with the viewer's desire
to be a part of this ancient world that has always influenced our way of life, our culture and
our society, proving itself to be contemporary with any period.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Milan
Italy
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Illustrations
120 trichrome illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 348 mm
Width: 283 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
1706 gr
ISBN-13
978-88-7439-801-0 (9788874398010)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Luigi Spina (b. 1966) is a photographer from Naples. He participated at the ninth International
Photography Festival in Rome and at MIAFAIR 2013 with his book-project The Buchner Boxes.
With 5 Continents Editions he has published: The Buchner Boxes, The Dancers from the Villa dei
Papyri, Memorie del Vaso Blu, Amazzonomachia, and Centauri. He began his photographic
portrayal of the Farnese collection of Classical sculptures for the Archaeological Museum of
Naples in 2002.
Philippe Daverio, art historian and art dealer, has been Head of Culture for the City of Milan
from 1993 to 1997. Commentator for Panorama, Liberal, Vogue and People, he is also the author and
anchorman of the television program Passepartout (since January 2012 Il Capitale), a successful show on
art and culture that has received considerable recognition from both critics and the public.
Giovanni Fiorentino teaches at Tuscia University and works as a journalist for Il Messaggero
and Il Mattino as well as being an author. He runs the Centro Meridionale di Educazione
Ambientale in Sorrento.
Photography Festival in Rome and at MIAFAIR 2013 with his book-project The Buchner Boxes.
With 5 Continents Editions he has published: The Buchner Boxes, The Dancers from the Villa dei
Papyri, Memorie del Vaso Blu, Amazzonomachia, and Centauri. He began his photographic
portrayal of the Farnese collection of Classical sculptures for the Archaeological Museum of
Naples in 2002.
Philippe Daverio, art historian and art dealer, has been Head of Culture for the City of Milan
from 1993 to 1997. Commentator for Panorama, Liberal, Vogue and People, he is also the author and
anchorman of the television program Passepartout (since January 2012 Il Capitale), a successful show on
art and culture that has received considerable recognition from both critics and the public.
Giovanni Fiorentino teaches at Tuscia University and works as a journalist for Il Messaggero
and Il Mattino as well as being an author. He runs the Centro Meridionale di Educazione
Ambientale in Sorrento.