Arnaldo Pomodoro, whose bronze spheres decorate prominent public spaces around the world, dies at 98
Arnaldo Pomodoro, one of Italy 's most prominent contemporary artists whose bronze spheres decorate iconic public spaces from the Vatican to the United Nations, has died at age 98, his foundation said Monday.
Pomodoro died at home in Milan on Sunday, the eve of his 99th birthday, according to a statement from Carlotta Montebello, director general of the Arnaldo Pomodoro Foundation.
Pomodoro's spheres are instantly recognizable: shiny, smooth bronze globes with clawed out interiors that Pomodoro has said referred to the superficial perfection of exteriors and the troubled complexity of interiors.
The Vatican's sphere, which occupies a prominent place in the Pigna Courtyard of the Vatican Museums, features an internal mechanism that rotates with the wind. 'In my work I see the cracks, the eroded parts, the destructive potential that emerges from our time of disillusionment,' the Vatican quoted Pomodoro as saying about its sphere.
The United Nations in New York received a 3.3-meter diameter 'Sphere Within Sphere' sculpture as a gift from Italy in 1996. The U.N. sphere has both humanistic and technology-oriented meaning and referenced the coming of the new millennium: 'a smooth exterior womb erupted by complex interior forms,' and 'a promise for the rebirth of a less troubled and destructive world,' Pomodoro said of it.
Other spheres are located at museums around the world and outside the Italian foreign ministry, which has the original work that Pomodoro made in 1966 for the Montreal Expo that began his monumental sculpture project.
Pomodoro was born in Montefeltro, Italy, on June 23, 1926. In addition to his spheres, he designed theatrical sets, land projects and machines. He had multiple retrospectives and taught at Stanford University, University of California at Berkeley and Mills College, according to his biography on the foundation website.
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The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Arnaldo Pomodoro, whose bronze spheres decorate prominent public spaces around the world, dies at 98
Arnaldo Pomodoro, one of Italy 's most prominent contemporary artists whose bronze spheres decorate iconic public spaces from the Vatican to the United Nations, has died at age 98, his foundation said Monday. Pomodoro died at home in Milan on Sunday, the eve of his 99th birthday, according to a statement from Carlotta Montebello, director general of the Arnaldo Pomodoro Foundation. Pomodoro's spheres are instantly recognizable: shiny, smooth bronze globes with clawed out interiors that Pomodoro has said referred to the superficial perfection of exteriors and the troubled complexity of interiors. The Vatican's sphere, which occupies a prominent place in the Pigna Courtyard of the Vatican Museums, features an internal mechanism that rotates with the wind. 'In my work I see the cracks, the eroded parts, the destructive potential that emerges from our time of disillusionment,' the Vatican quoted Pomodoro as saying about its sphere. The United Nations in New York received a 3.3-meter diameter 'Sphere Within Sphere' sculpture as a gift from Italy in 1996. The U.N. sphere has both humanistic and technology-oriented meaning and referenced the coming of the new millennium: 'a smooth exterior womb erupted by complex interior forms,' and 'a promise for the rebirth of a less troubled and destructive world,' Pomodoro said of it. Other spheres are located at museums around the world and outside the Italian foreign ministry, which has the original work that Pomodoro made in 1966 for the Montreal Expo that began his monumental sculpture project. Pomodoro was born in Montefeltro, Italy, on June 23, 1926. In addition to his spheres, he designed theatrical sets, land projects and machines. He had multiple retrospectives and taught at Stanford University, University of California at Berkeley and Mills College, according to his biography on the foundation website.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
Modern bronze monoliths to become a Newquay 'pilgrimage'
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Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Spaghetti with gin and a lemon butter sauce
Think of pasta alla vodka. That sweet, slightly tangy, creamy-but-not-in-a-heavy-way sauce which is so silky and clings to the penne. This sauce does a similar thing. The lemon and softened garlic are rounded out by the splash of gin. Plenty of parmesan and black pepper add savoury depth. And cold butter swirled through at the end brings it all together. It's as if pasta al limone and fettuccine Alfredo had a baby. It's fast, satisfying, the perfect Friday night dinner at the end of an odd week. Ingredients 200g spaghetti 2 tbsp olive oil, for frying 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped juice of 3 lemons 60ml gin or vodka 20g freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving 1 heaped tsp of freshly cracked black pepper, plus extra for serving 30g cold butter a few chives, snipped, to serve (optional) Method Step Put a large pan of salted water on to boil. Step Cook 200g spaghetti until almost al dente or according to the package instructions, then drain, reserving 30ml of the cooking water. Step Meanwhile, set a large frying pan over a low heat and add 2 tbsp olive oil. Step Add 4 garlic cloves (finely chopped) and a big pinch of salt. Cook for 2 minutes. Step Add juice of 3 lemons and cook for another 2 minutes, then add 60ml gin (or vodka) and cook for 3 minutes more. Take off the heat. Step Put the 20g freshly grated Parmesan and 1 heaped tsp of freshly cracked black pepper in a bowl. Pour a little of the reserved cooking water in the bowl – just enough to make a paste with the cheese. Step Put the cheese mixture in the garlic pan then turn the heat to medium. Step Cook, stirring vigorously for a couple of minutes, or until you have a sauce which is starting to cling to the spaghetti. Step Turn the heat off, add the 30g cold butter and keep stirring until melted. By now the sauce should be glossy. Speaking of gin, it's national gin day on Saturday apparently. A good excuse to put a bottle in the freezer to chill while you peruse our thorough collection of gin recipes, from twists on a classic G&T to ice lollies and jellies. Happy cooking, and see you next Friday!
