Penone's 'Abete' Sculpture Sparks Social Media Controversy in Florence

On March 25, 2021, Giuseppe Penone's 22-meter-tall sculpture 'Abete' was installed in Piazza della Signoria, Florence, as part of the Dantedì celebrations marking the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri's birth. The work, made of stainless steel and bronze, alludes to Dante's Paradiso (Canto XVIII, verses 29-30) and serves as a preview for the exhibition 'Alberi Inversi' at the Uffizi Galleries from June 1 to September 12, 2021. Uffizi director Eike Schmidt anticipated public debate, noting that contemporary art in the piazza has historically sparked lively discussion. Social media erupted with criticism, particularly on Florence mayor Dario Nardella's Facebook page, where users compared the sculpture to a dry trunk with rusty tubes, a Christmas tree nicknamed 'Spelacchio' in Rome, and even garbage. Penone described the work as representing the spiral of thought and vegetative growth. The sculpture consists of 18 bronze elements cast from bamboo molds, creating an ascending lattice. Despite the backlash, the exhibition at the Uffizi will offer deeper insight into the Arte Povera master's practice.