Giuseppe Carta's 'Orti della Germinazione' in Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi

The solo exhibition 'Orti della Germinazione' by Giuseppe Carta (born in Banari, 1950) is staged across Piazza Duomo and the Church of Sant'Agostino in Pietrasanta, extending to the pier of nearby Forte dei Marmi. Curated by Luca Beatrice and directed by Alberto Bartalini, the show features a 17-meter red chili pepper sculpture in the main square, a pop artwork dense with metaphorical meanings. Inside the deconsecrated church, altars, lace, and images blend sacred and profane references, with nature appearing as polished fruit forms that verge on metaphysical abstraction. Oil paintings in adjacent rooms display hyper-realistic, vibrant colors reminiscent of old masters yet with a modern, minimalist design sensibility. Works include depictions of Sardinian lace and transparent crystals, reflecting Carta's attachment to his homeland. A pomegranate sculpture, created in 2012 as a stage set for Andrea Bocelli's Teatro del Silenzio in Lajatico and later a symbol of the Andrea Bocelli Humanitarian Award, appears in multiple versions, including one on the Forte dei Marmi pier. The exhibition also highlights collaborations with Fonderia Artistica Mutti Francesco, Fonderia d'Arte Massimo del Chiaro, and the Massimo Giannoni sculpture workshop, recognized by the Municipality of Pietrasanta.