A large circle with strong lines and sharp edges merges geometry and abstraction, contemporary art and public space: Spaziotempo is the imposing granite work by artist Francesco Panceri that was recently inaugurated in the heart of Pergine Valsugana, in the central Piazza Gavazzi.
The work is part of the 32nd Annual Exhibition of Monumental Sculpture at Pergine Castle, but it finds its chosen space in the urban fabric, becoming a tangible symbol of the dialogue between contemporary art and urban space. The placement in the square is the result of a shared vision between Francesco Panceri, curator Dora Bulart – who has been committed for years to fostering a concrete encounter between art and community – and the Fondazione Castelpergine ETS, which since 2018 has been dedicated not only to the conservation of the historic medieval castle, but also to the promotion of artistic, musical and theatrical initiatives.
Bringing Spaziotempo outside the walls of the castle is not a simple exhibition gesture, but a precise cultural choice to insert art into everyday public life.
Made of Tonalite granite from Adamello, the sculpture is the result of a collaboration with the historic Pedretti Graniti company from Carisolo, which provided top quality materials, advanced technology and consolidated experience in stone processing. Daniele Pedretti, who has always promoted and worked closely with international artists and designers, immediately accepted the fascinating challenge of creating a powerful and technically extreme work. Spaziotempo measures 290x290x116 cm and was carved from two original blocks of 280 quintals each, which were worked and assembled to obtain a final structure of about 90 quintals. Spaziotempo was an authentic sculptural feat, but the colossal dimensions and technical complexity of the work did not prevent the work from expressing geometric rigour and great expressive power of the material.
The work is presented as a large circle crossed by a central void, a true visual gateway inviting the public to look at the city from a new perspective. The two connected arches generate a balance between solids and voids, while the play of light and shadow on the projecting volumes recalls ancient instruments for measuring time. Panceri thus constructs not only a sculpture, but a device of vision: a metaphysical passage connecting the present with the past and the future, matter with the spirit, the stability of granite with the flow of time.
Spaziotempo does not merely occupy a space: it redefines it. It is a threshold, an opening, a lens through which to reread urban architecture. Granite, an ancient and resistant stone, tells of memory and the solidity of roots; the open form symbolises change, dialogue and encounter.
This initiative represents a significant step towards the construction of a new public art space in Pergine Valsugana, where the monumental sculpture becomes not only an aesthetic element, but an instrument of participation and relationship. Spaziotempo transforms the square in the heart of the town into a place where art becomes an everyday and shared experience.
In this setting, the sculpture marks the beginning of a broader journey, an urban narrative in which sculpture is interwoven with history, identity and community. Spaziotempo invites us to look at and approach the city from a new perspective.
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For further information:
Francesco Panceri: www.francescopanceri.it
Dora Bulart, curator: www.galleriacontempo.com
Fondazione CastelPergine ETS: www.fondazionecastelpergine.eu
Pedretti graniti: www.pedrettigraniti.it
Photographs by Francesco Panceri, Matteo Lorenzi and Daniele Pedretti
The urban public art project is promoted by the Fondazione Castelpergine ETS, curated by Dora Bulart, and is a collateral event to Francesco Panceri’s personal exhibition hosted at Castel Pergine. The initiative received the patronage of the Municipality of Pergine Valsugana and the support of the Cassa Rurale Alta Valsugana and Itas Assicurazioni
