Gianfranco Meggiato's Dioscuri Sculptures Transform Via Veneto in Rome

From December 1, 2023, to February 1, 2024, eleven monumental sculptures by Gianfranco Meggiato (born 1963 in Venice) are installed along Via Veneto and at Porta Pinciana in Rome, in an exhibition titled 'I Dioscuri tornano a Roma' (The Dioscuri Return to Rome). The works reinterpret the myth of Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus venerated by Romans since the 5th century BC. The exhibition is promoted by Municipio Roma 1 and the Associazione Via Veneto, organized by the Fondazione di Arte e Cultura Gianfranco Meggiato, with scientific curator Dimitri Ozerkov. The sculptures are made of aluminum (using staff casting) and bronze (lost-wax casting), on stainless steel bases, ranging from two to five meters in height. Visitors can access an interactive map via QR codes on smartphones. Key works include 'Il Volo' and 'L'Attimo Fuggente' at Porta Pinciana, and along Via Veneto: 'Sfera Quantica', 'Taurus', 'Cubo con Cubo', 'Fiore d'Oriente', 'Scorpius', 'Doppio totem', 'Cono Energia', 'Colonna Energia', and 'Disco Orione'. Meggiato received the Icomos-Unesco prize in 2017 for combining ancient and contemporary in evocative sculptural installations. The project aligns with a future initiative 'L'ottava testa' at the Baths of Diocletian in May 2024. The artist states the works invite reflection on duality and unity, using ancient roots to convey contemporary messages.