Enzo Cucchi's New Works Dialogue with Medieval Heretic Cecco d'Ascoli at Forte Malatesta

Enzo Cucchi presents a new exhibition at Forte Malatesta in Ascoli Piceno, running until May 31. Titled 'Per Cecco!', the show features around fifteen works—sculptures, paintings, and textiles—created specifically for the venue, exploring the life and symbolism of Cecco d'Ascoli, a medieval poet, physician, and astrologer burned at the stake for heresy. Cucchi, celebrated for his visionary and unconventional practice, draws parallels between his own artistic path and Cecco's intellectual rebellion, separated by seven centuries but rooted in the same Marche region. The exhibition is curated by Ludovico Pratesi and Marco Bassan, in collaboration with Spazio Taverna and the association Civiltà Picena. The fortress, a former military and religious site, adds layers of meaning to the dialogue. Cucchi's works incorporate recurring motifs like skulls, bells, and animals, creating cryptic narratives suspended between life and death. While the formal execution of some pieces is noted as not among his most memorable, the conceptual strength of the atemporal dialogue is praised.