Sculpture by Giò Pomodoro at Rome Fiumicino Airport
Fiumicino airport is transformed into a space of art and culture by welcoming from today, for a year, "Grande folla n.1" by Giò Pomodoro. The majestic bronze sculpture, created in 1964 and belonging to the collection of the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GNAMC), has been restored thanks to the support of Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) and now finds a new location inside Terminal 1.
From left: Renata Cristina Mazzantini, Director of GNAMC, Vincenzo Nunziata, President of ADR, Raffaello Biselli, Councillor for Productive Activities of the Municipality of Fiumicino. © ADR
One and a half meters high, three meters long and weighing about 500 kg, the work stands out for its golden, mirrored and sinuous surface, which creates plays of light and shadow between solids and voids, reflecting and distorting the images of passengers crossing the terminal. An alternation of convexity and concavity that transforms the space of the "Piazza" of boarding area A into a dynamic and fluid environment, evoking futuristic suggestions and amplifying the vitality of the airport itself.
To further enrich the artistic experience, multimedia projections have been set up in the internal square of Terminal 1 that tell the story of the GNAMC collection, the most important in the world for modern and contemporary Italian art. Images from a selection of the Gallery's masterpieces, accompanied by explanatory texts, are projected onto six large luminous pillars – the Pilars of Art – creating a visual and conceptual dialogue with Giò Pomodoro's sculpture and redefining the architectural space of the terminal.
With this installation, Aeroporti di Roma confirms its desire to transform Rome Fiumicino airport from a simple place of transit to a space of culture and beauty, combining artistic attractiveness with the quality of the services offered. A strategic vision that is reflected in the prestigious awards obtained: Leonardo da Vinci has recently seen the 5 Skytrax Stars reconfirmed, the highest award in the world airport sector, and for the first time it has been included in the Top Ten of the Best Airports in the World, reaching eighth place.
To embellish the inauguration, thanks to the partnership with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, passengers and guests were able to attend an exclusive musical moment with pianist Marco Aurelio Raco, who performed pieces such as "Wasserklavier" by Luciano Berio and "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" by Michael Nyman.
The inauguration of the work, held today, was attended by Vincenzo Nunziata, President of ADR, Marco Troncone, CEO of ADR, Renata Cristina Mazzantini, Director of GNAMC, and the Councilor for Productive Activities of the Municipality of Fiumicino, Raffaello Biselli.
