Giuliano Scabia's 2008 Etna Performance with Papier-Mâché Horse Benenghéli

In early August 2008, Italian artist Giuliano Scabia embarked on a three-day performance on Mount Etna, ascending the volcanic slopes while wearing Benenghéli, a papier-mâché horse he constructed himself. Accompanied by photographer and filmmaker Maurizio Conca, who documented the entire journey, Scabia started from Giarre and traversed locations including Milo, moving toward the summit in search of fire. For the final day, a local guide joined them to approach an active lava flow. The performance, described by Scabia as an act of crossing places to console time, involved wandering the Etna landscape with the horse strapped to his shoulders. Conca captured the event on film over the duration, focusing on Scabia's interactions with the volcanic terrain. The ascent aimed at a vision of fire, blending artistic intervention with the natural environment of Sicily's iconic volcano.