23 Jun 2023
Luca Gnizio presents Forsoultree, his latest work blending the trunk of a centuries-old holm oak tree with the artist's gestures to create a unique sensory experience in a prestigious setting inside the Monumental Park of Monte Ceceri, where Leonardo Da Vinci first experimented with his flying machine.
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How a work of art is created – Forsoultree: new life from dead wood
The grounds of Villa San Michele, where the work is sited, are part of the Monumental Park of Monte Ceceri. During the restoration of footpaths through two and a half hectares of beautiful woodland, Frontera Gardens informed the managers of the Villa that they had come across the large trunk of a centuries-old holm oak tree that had likely fallen during a storm.
The extraordinary occasion and captivating setting led to the idea of involving the unique talent of Luca Gnizio, an artist capable of grasping the essence of the material and transforming the trunk into something new and rare.
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Gnizio is an eco-social artist who faithfully adheres to the "three Rs" - reduce, reuse, and recycle. Thanks to his inspiration and determination, he manages to create new levels of beauty, content, and meaning out of what would normally be considered waste. Using powerful creative gestures, the artist invites us into the tree where the sap once flowed to touch the wood, smell its fragrance, and feel the energy of the holm oak.
There, you can lie down and contemplate the view overlooking Florence, or the rocky wall of the old quarry inside Leonardo's wood from two seats, one facing the valley and the other uphill. A deep basin carved into the trunk provides ample seating and an opportunity to connect with nature from the heart of the tree.
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"Forsoultree speaks of beauty and respect and reminds us that nothing belongs to us on this earth, where we are simply passing guests," explains Luca Gnizio. "By physically entering the tree, we can establish an intimate and sensory dialogue with that part of us that is innate."
Luca Gnizio's creative flair, from the conception of Forsoultree to its completion, has been captured on film by director and filmmaker Fabio Bastianello.
"The real luxury of our times is the chance to observe the generosity and beauty of nature, and to enjoy the infinite opportunities it offers us," concludes the artist. "Forsoultree takes us into the depths of things, where primitive sensations are born, and connects us through our senses with a piece of eternity.”
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