Florence Mayor's Art-Led Piazza Revamp Blocked by Court
Florence mayor Dario Nardella's attempt to clear Piazza San Firenze of street vendors by installing a sculpture by Helidon Xhixha has been halted by the Regional Administrative Court (Tar). The court suspended the mayor's eviction order, leaving vendors in place around Xhixha's work 'La O di Giotto'. The sculpture was part of a larger exhibition 'In Ordine Sparso' curated by Eike Schmidt and Diego Giolitti, running June 27–October 29, 2017, at the Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Pitti, Uffizi Galleries, Piazza San Firenze, and Florence and Pisa airports. The exhibition features 15 monumental sculptures in polished steel or marble from Henraux. The airport installations are part of 'VolareArte', a Henraux Foundation initiative with Toscana Aeroporti, now in its fourth edition at Pisa and second at Florence, displaying 11 works (9 in Pisa, 2 in Florence) through 2019.
Key facts
- Mayor Dario Nardella sought to remove street vendors from Piazza San Firenze using an artwork placement.
- The Tar suspended the eviction order, allowing vendors to remain.
- Helidon Xhixha's sculpture 'La O di Giotto' is installed in Piazza San Firenze.
- The exhibition 'In Ordine Sparso' runs June 27–October 29, 2017.
- Curators are Eike Schmidt (Director of Uffizi Galleries) and Diego Giolitti.
- 15 sculptures are placed across Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Pitti, Uffizi, Piazza San Firenze, and airports.
- The airport project 'VolareArte' is in its fourth edition at Pisa and second at Florence.
- 11 works are displayed at airports: 9 in Pisa, 2 in Florence, through 2019.
Entities
Artists
- Helidon Xhixha
Institutions
- Artribune
- Gallerie degli Uffizi
- Fondazione Henraux
- Toscana Aeroporti spa
Locations
- Florence
- Italy
- Piazza San Firenze
- Boboli Gardens
- Palazzo Pitti
- Uffizi Galleries
- Pisa
- Florence Airport
- Pisa Airport