Emiliano Ponzi's Kinetic Sculpture 'Breath' Debuts in Tuscany

On May 22, 2026, Emiliano Ponzi's monumental kinetic sculpture 'Breath' will be inaugurated on the hills of Peccioli, Italy. The work, curated by Cristiano Seganfreddo and developed with experiential designer Dario Spinelli, becomes part of the MACCA open-air museum collection. Made of satin steel on an eight-meter diameter circular base, the sculpture features a constellation of metallic elements that rotate around a central core, reacting to wind and light. At its heart, a mechanical flower opens at dawn and closes at sunset, giving the work its title. 'Breath' aims to synchronize with nature, making visible the passage of hours, air movement, and light fluctuations across the Tuscan landscape. The inauguration at dawn will host journalists, curators, and guests to witness the first opening of the flower, accompanied by a line from Emily Dickinson: 'The Landscape listens—Shadows—hold their breath.' Peccioli has transformed into a diffuse museum through reinvestment of waste management revenues, now hosting over seventy works by international artists including Daniel Buren, Alicja Kwade, and Patrick Tuttofuoco. Ponzi, known for illustration work with The New York Times, The New Yorker, Apple, and Hermès, has expanded into painting, environmental installations, and three-dimensional works, with 'Breath' representing a mature expression of this evolution.