Improper installation of Nicola Carrino's sculpture sparks controversy in Bari

The installation of Nicola Carrino's Ellissi 1/83 at the Pinacoteca Metropolitana di Bari has sparked controversy. The sculpture was placed on a 30 cm high pedestal, altering its perception and meaning, reducing it to a decorative object. The same pedestal was previously used for Pino Pascali's 9 mq di pozzanghere, currently on loan to the Fondazione Pascali for the exhibition Pino Pascali: dall'Immagine alla Forma at Palazzo Cavanis in Venice. Clara Gelao, former director of the Pinacoteca, is responsible for both placements. Giacomo Lanzillotta, art historian at the museum, cited space constraints and administrative issues, noting the pedestal was already paid for. He announced that the exhibition will be reorganized within two years, and Carrino's work will return to storage after the Pascali show in Venice ends. Art historian Giuseppe Appella, a longtime friend of Carrino, criticized the installation, recalling that the sculpture was originally displayed flat against a wall at Galleria Primo Piano in 1985. He lamented the neglect of Carrino's work in his home region, including the deteriorated state of Piazza Fontana in Taranto. The article calls for proper homage to Carrino and vigilance from cultural authorities.