the story of the invisible sculpture sold for US$18,000

The sculpture went viral again after the British profile Pubity, followed by more than 40 million people, rescued the story in a publication that already has almost 1 million likes. The episode reignited an old debate: how far does the value of art go — and where does the power of imagination begin?

According to Garau, what was acquired is not “nothing”, but the vacuum itself — a space that, for him, is full of energy and creative potential.

The artist argues that emptiness is a form of presence. He states that, even if it seems non-existent, space carries energy that can transform into particles — and, therefore, into matter. The work, he says, is made of “air and spirit”, and exists because the human mind is capable of shaping ideas and beliefs, just as it shapes faith in something invisible.

When I decide to ‘exhibit’ an immaterial sculpture in a given space, that space will concentrate a certain amount and density of thoughts at a precise point, creating a sculpture that, according to my title, will only take on the most varied forms. Salvatore Garau

The certificate given to the buyer describes the work as an immaterial sculpture to be placed in a private residence and in a space free from obstacles measuring approximately 1.5 x 1.5 m. There are even optional lighting and temperature control recommendations, since the “work” cannot be seen.