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Arts and Culture

How’s This for Poignant Social Commentary?

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Posted on Oct 6, 2010
Flickr / GuntherAnders is my co-pilot (CC-BY-SA)

Considering how feeble most public art is, this rather arresting piece by Italian sculptor Maurizio Cattelan deserves some serious props, especially in light of its location—within spitting distance of the Milan stock exchange. Cattelan himself may deny any significant link between the sculpture, officially dubbed L.O.V.E., and its current placement, but the meaning of an artwork isn’t solely determined by the artist, now is it?  —KA

BBC:

Cattelan’s latest creation is a huge hand, beautifully sculpted from Carrara marble—the same material used by Michelangelo and Bernini.

But its middle finger is extended skywards in a very un-Renaissance-like gesture of contempt. That—given its position here just a stone’s throw from the stock exchange—has invited discussion of a possible anti-capitalist message, though the artist himself has denied any such intention.

Canvassing opinion among visitors to Milan, many feel the sculpture deserves a permanent place in the city that’s also home to Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

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rico, suave's avatar

By rico, suave, October 10, 2010 at 8:48 am Link to this comment

“How’s This for Poignant Social Commentary?”

Well, puerile comes to mind. Sophomoric maybe. Are we sure Will Ferrell didn’t do it?

[Conservatives: Working hard so you don’t have to.]

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By purplewolf, October 6, 2010 at 9:20 pm Link to this comment

Back in the 70’s they had life size wooden carved hands of the peace sign and the one finger salute you could buy in the stores. I had one of each in my bay window for years and gave them to a friend. I also had one from a store that was make of all fingers in a sphere. It hung from the rear view mirror my a friends van when she wanted it after she saw it. I am certain eBay might still have some available from peoples hippie days up for sale. Perhaps we might find them and send them to all of the about mentioned deserving people and places.

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D.R. Zing's avatar

By D.R. Zing, October 6, 2010 at 8:07 pm Link to this comment

The fitting one for the GOP headquarters would be wearing a purple glove, fingers and thumb forming a duckbill, glistening with lube.

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By Krill Blog, October 6, 2010 at 7:55 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I would love to have it secretly install in front of my mother in laws lawn. I will pay front seat just to see her reaction when she finally see that sculpture. She will surely go crazy once she see it.

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By Krill Blog, October 6, 2010 at 7:50 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Lol… I would love to secretly install one in front of my mother in law’s lawn… She will surely go crazy once she see it…

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Robespierre115's avatar

By Robespierre115, October 6, 2010 at 2:39 pm Link to this comment

We need three of these: One for Wall Street, one for the White House and one for Congress.

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anaman51's avatar

By anaman51, October 6, 2010 at 1:22 pm Link to this comment

Do you suppose it’s possible to have one of those installed across the street from Republican National Headquarters? Maybe if we pass the hat, the creator would reprise his work. It really is for a good cause!

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