Manolo Benvenuti
Benvenuti designed a complex installation while involving the public in codesign, turning it into a collective operation. Inspired by fishermen’s boats, it highlights marine environmental issues and evokes dreamlike scenarios of childhood, adventure, and poetic undertakings within a mosaic in motion.
I graduated in architecture in Florence. As a self-taught artist, I learned the practice of upcycling by creating diverse works: sculptures, installations, set designs, and environmental art. I use all kinds of materials, both natural and not, with a preference for discarded ones, constantly exploring their expressive potential. At the same time, I develop artistic and self-building workshops, training participants in creative reuse. I often involve people in the creation of my works, with particular attention to children. I have dedicated some projects to them, making them protagonists through multidisciplinary methods. For me, the artwork is as important as the creative process and the constructive action that leads to its completion. There are three aspects that I aim to unite and that constantly shape my path: creativity, participation, and sustainability.
Used material, technique, support:
Structure: Electro-welded metal mesh, welded iron rods, and tubes. Floating System: 590 whole and empty PET bottles, inserted into the metal mesh. Coating: 600 PET bottles processed to be transformed into tiles (cut, ironed, shaped) and attached to the metal mesh with wire.
Artwork Description:
Inspired by the shape of the typical fishing boats of the Romagna maritime tradition, it aims to raise public awareness about the maritime and river heritage, to protect it from the invasion of plastics. This intent was reinforced by the involvement of many volunteers who participated in collecting the bottles and in the transformation workshop. The creation of the artwork was made possible thanks to a contribution from the Province of Rimini (Department of Environment and Sustainable Development Policies), on the occasion of the Borgo San Giuliano festival, an old fishing village in Rimini. Dimensions: length 6m, width 2.2m, height 5.5m.
