The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art is participating at the Day of the Contemporary this year. For the occasion, the artist Federica Di Carlo is exhibiting the work I Wanted the Sun (2022), in the "Sala dei Gessi", which will remain on view until Oct. 14.

Federica Di Carlo's work entitled I Wanted the Sun is inspired by the statue of the goddess of astronomy Urania, exhibited at the Vatican Museums. The artist photographs only its measured gesture, that of holding up the sphere, a representation of the celestial bodies, with extreme delicacy. In this way, by diverting the viewer's attention from the goddess and bringing it to the action of holding in balance, the artist creates a memento about that scientific action of man toward Nature. The sphere, which in human history is a representation of the symbol of temporal power and/or a symbol of dominion over the world, becomes the instant on which to reflect. Accompanying the shot, a series of sculptures that transform the divine gesture into a mortal one, show the arm of the goddess sculpture detached, fallen, upon closer observation one catches the grip in the gesture. The hand grasps, squeezes the celestial body, perhaps the sun, takes possession of it producing a change within the predetermined balances. It is on this action that the artist places his reflection in the relationship between man and nature.