Pinuccio Sciola and Maria Lai: A Sacred Dialogue in Cagliari

Palazzo di Città in Cagliari has dedicated a new space to Pinuccio Sciola (1942-2016) as part of the museum's recent reinstallation, inaugurated last summer under new director Paola Mura. The oldest room, themed around the sacred, presents a lesser-known side of Sciola: his wood carving. The centerpiece is a 1960s olive wood crucifix, a Michelangelo-inspired non-finito piece. Opposite hangs Maria Lai's 'Sindone' (1998), a white fabric with embroidered silhouette recalling the Shroud of Turin. This pairing highlights the lifelong friendship between the two Sardinian masters. Sciola, known for his sound stones and megaliths, was a central figure in San Sperate, transforming it into an open-air museum of murals and sculpture gardens. His home hosted figures like Dario Fo, Renzo Piano, and Man Ray. After his death, the Fondazione Pinuccio Sciola was established, along with the Sant'Arte festival. Sciola's children—Chiara, Tomaso, and Maria—are involved in preserving his legacy. The article also recounts Sciola's 2013 concert at Michelangelo's tomb in Florence, where he played stones to honor the Renaissance master.