Gianfranco Meggiato's 14 Monumental Sculptures Dialogue with Giotto in Padua

Gianfranco Meggiato (Venice, 1963) presents a public sculpture exhibition across Padua's historic center and outskirts, running until March 31, 2026. Curated by Jon Wood and Nicola Galvan, the show features 14 contemporary installations that engage with Giotto's legacy, particularly his frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel. The centerpiece is "Il Bacio di Giuda" (The Kiss of Judas), a bronze and aluminum sculpture placed along the path to the chapel entrance. It depicts nine figures: eight black forms and a central luminous spiral representing Christ, with Peter cutting off the servant's ear, Judas embracing Christ, and three figures on the right showing the arrest. Meggiato interprets the scene as a metaphor for human spiritual forgetfulness. Other works include "Lo Specchio dell'Assoluto" near the Eremitani Museum, "Attimo Fuggente" between Piazza Eremitani and Corso Garibaldi, "Sfera Conchiglia" on the route to the chapel, "Sfera Sirio" in the Arena Romana Gardens, "Verso la Libertà" in Galleria Cavour, "Mistral" with red volutes at ex-Piazzale Boschetti, and "L'Uomo Quantico" and "Anima Latina" in peripheral areas. Sculptures are cast in bronze using lost-wax technique and aluminum via sand casting, reaching up to 6.6 meters in height on stainless steel bases. Each piece includes a QR code for further information, and the full itinerary is available online.