ART by Raffaele Salvoldi
“The imaginary city” is a temporary, traveling installation designed to bring people together and evoke emotions in cultural spaces. It represents an imaginary skyline of a city with monumental shapes, made up of tens of thousands of Kapla wooden blocks, placed one on top of the other without the use of glue or joints, laid carefully one by one by the artist’s patient hands.
The installation is always site-specific, created on the spot in harmony with the surrounding space, each time in different size and shape, under the eyes of the public who can interact with the artist. The ephemeral nature of these works also contributes to the project’s sustainability, allowing the materials to be reused for different pieces, thus limiting potential waste.
The deeper meaning of this art form lies in the final event, which is the demolition of the artwork (where possible) by the public or through a domino effect. The artist’s goal is to make us reflect on the impermanence of beauty, creating a parallel with the architectural heritage where the work is inserted, or with nature itself, reminding the viewer of the importance of working to slow down and counteract this process as much as possible.
Raffaele Salvoldi began his career as a cinematographer. After 10 years of experience in the advertising and documentary sectors, he started working as an artist during the lockdown period. What initially seemed like a simple pastime soon turned into a genuine artistic exploration. Thanks to social media and the strong visual impact of his works, Salvoldi started experimenting with larger structures within CASA BOSSI, a residential building by Antonelli, of great historical and cultural significance. Salvoldi's works began to fill the building’s fascinating rooms, becoming a real attraction for the public. In September 2022, the artist’s first exhibition concluded with the public demolishing the main artwork. The artist continued to experiment with increasingly complex structures, reaching greater heights and attracting more and more visitors. In 2023, in addition to wood, marble was introduced. The bricks were made from stone processing waste, thus actively contributing to material reuse and opening up new possibilities for outdoor installations. In 2024, La Città Immaginaria APS was founded, a non-profit association that, thanks to the support of sponsors and volunteers, presents Salvoldi’s installations on a larger scale in museums and cultural spaces around the world. Its goal is to promote the enjoyment of these places through regular educational activities, where children, school groups, and adults can engage in building small structures alongside the artist.
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