Client: Conferenza Episcopale Italiana Diocesi di Cuneo

Overview

The project of the monumental sculptural Complex of “Il Sacro Cuore di Gesu’” in Cuneo present a new design of the catholic temple.

In the context of a Church rich of an architectonic-artistic patrimony unique in the world, the motive of this project does not stand in abstract aesthetic reasons but it answers to those concrete of a Church renewing itself inside its own walls.

Goals

A collection of 7 pieces; a font, lector, altar and seats for the bishop and altar boys define the new heart of the church. Selecting the best of the white Carrara marble, these sculptures are all carved from single blocks of stone, showing traditional folds of fabric but the texture of hessian to represent the humility of Jesus. The sign of a cross appears in the shadows of the carved folds on the stone fabric of the altar, the font sweats a continual flow of water from a closed-circuit system, and a fish is carved at the bottom to recall the first christian symbol; IKTUS (iktus means fish in greek but it was the acronym for Iesos Khristos Theou Uios Soter)

Process

The natural operation of “restyling” proceeded through an incredible team work effort, executed without protagonism any, but claiming maybe the heritage of the cistercian builders tradition in a contemporary key. This work become exemplary, also in the way in which it’s been restored an original and creative relationship between the sculptor and the architect.

Additional Information

The new monumental sculptural complex of the Sacro Cuore di Gesu’ in Cuneo, present an alternative solution to the classic restoration attitude, and draw the new base in understanding the “modernization” of the Christian temple in the III Millenium.