12-meter work with phallic shape attracts attention in Naples, Italy

The artistic installation “Tu si’ ‘na cosa grande”, or “You are a big thing”, in Italian, has caught the attention of tourists and residents of the city of Naples, Italy, due to its curious format.

What happened

The work is an “act of love”, says city hall. In a statement about the inauguration of the work, the city of Naples stated that the installation is the last by the artist Gaetano Pesce, and “symbolizes the affection he felt for Naples and its region, as well as the search for his distant roots”. Pesce died in New York in April, aged 84. His work was characterized by the inventive use of colors and materials, with sociopolitical and pop culture references.

Installation consists of two sculptures. The main piece, which measures 12 meters in length, pays homage to the Pulcinella’s clothing, a type common in classic Italian comedies and a Neapolitan symbol. It is accompanied by another smaller one, a 5 meter high red heart, pierced by an arrow. Both structures can be lit from the inside, and are displayed in Piazza Municipio, a well-known tourist spot in Naples.