Alice Valenti's 'L'8+ La barca celeste' installation on Lake Como honors Olympic rowers

On the shores of Lake Como in Cernobbio, Italy, a public art installation titled 'L'8+ La barca celeste' pays tribute to Olympic athletes, particularly the Italian women's eight rowing team that qualified for the first time in history for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The project was conceived by Aldo Premoli and executed by artist Alice Valenti, who used spray painting to decorate eight oars and an Olympic skiff. The boat, 8 meters long and 40 centimeters wide, features a starry sky motif on a blue background that echoes the lake's waters. Valenti describes the work as an allegory of a ritual vessel carrying the sun across the night sky, symbolizing new life and the dream of victory. The installation was made possible by two third-sector associations, Io Sono Filippo and MSE Aps, along with local entrepreneurs and citizens. It stands as an example of public art born from active citizenship, uniting sport, tourism, and culture in the Lake Como region.