Federico Gori's 'L'Età dell'Oro' at MarTa Merges Contemporary Art with Archaeology

The MarTa, the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto, has acquired a site-specific work by Federico Gori (born 1977 in Prato) titled 'L'Età dell'Oro. La muta'. The installation, purchased in April 2022, is part of the museum's exhibition project 'L'Età dell'Oro', curated by director Eva Degl'Innocenti and Lorenzo Madaro. The work draws inspiration from the dazzling refinement of the 'Ori di Taranto' (the gold artifacts of Taranto). The symbolic core of the piece is the serpent, an archetype of transformation linked to chthonic deities and the primordial power of Mother Earth. Gori's investigation thematically explores the concept of rebirth, considered fundamental in an era of pandemics and wars. The installation includes sculptures housed in a wooden and glass case across multiple levels, made of gold, silver, bronze, copper, and iron, incorporating the exuviae (shed skins) of 28 snakes. The choice of metals follows the succession of the ages of man described by Hesiod in 'Works and Days'. Degl'Innocenti states: 'It is the past of man that manifests itself in its close relationship with history, and it is also a founding element of the future, thanks to the regenerative capacity that Gori's work defines in this continuous cycle.' Madaro adds: 'Federico Gori's exhibition is also an opportunity to investigate the museum's archaeological collection.'