November News: La Fiamma Che Non Brucia Goes on Tour!
Sali e Tabacchi Journal Launches Riv.05: La Via del Fuoco with an Exclusive Sculpture Exhibition by Giuditta Vettese in Paris and London
Paris, France – Sali e Tabacchi Journal proudly presents a new sculpture by Italian artist Giuditta Vettese, specially commissioned for the launch of Riv.05: La Via del Fuoco. Realized in collaboration with Milan’s renowned Fonderia Artistica Battaglia, who provided the tools and expertise for Vettese to cast the piece in bronze, this evocative sculpture explores the profound parallels between eroticism and fire. The artwork will debut at The Broken Arm, a concept store in the vibrant Marais district of Paris, where it will be displayed during Paris Photo Art Weekend. Following its Paris premiere, the artwork will travel to London at the end of November, where it will be featured in an upcoming group show at GUTS Gallery curated by writer and curator Maddalena Iodice.
Vettese’s sculpture delves into the enigmatic nature of erotic energy, depicting it as an interior fire and alchemical object that emerges, igniting the senses and transcending the physical form. The work also draws from an iconography tied to the search for the sacred and spiritual practice, embodying formal references to holy water fonts and other ritual objects such as chalices, bells, and altars or to religious representations where the circle symbolizes sanctity and infinity (such as mandalas and halos). Inspired by tantric and astrological symbols, this iconography conveys a sense of the divine and universal, framing the work’s exploration of desire as a sacred, elemental force.
"Eroticism is an invisible flame, a consuming yet mysterious energy, powerful and elusive," Vettese says of her work. "It connects us deeply to life; like fire, it is tied to both creation and destruction. Through this piece, I invite viewers to experience eroticism as a mystical force, rooted in the material and yet transcending it."
In a nod to the sensuality and unpredictability of fire, heat sources integrated below the bronze plane activated the sculpture during the shooting process, sparking subtle and natural oxidative transformations within the materials that echo the fluctuating, consuming nature of desire. With its concave form, the sculpture is designed to hold water—a metaphor for life and transformation, often used across cultures as a vehicle for contemplation and ritual.
The latest issue of Sali e Tabacchi Journal, Riv.05: La Via del Fuoco, features a collection of writings by Maddalena Iodice that complements an exclusive photo portfolio by Paris-based photographer Lara Giliberti. These texts and images offer a rich context, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the experience of the sculptures.
The Paris and London exhibitions of Giuditta Vettese’s sculpture mark a powerful fusion of ancient symbolism with contemporary exploration, inviting audiences to reflect on the timeless, elemental energy of eroticism. Sali e Tabacchi Journal is thrilled to bring this bold and evocative series to life, setting the stage for Riv.05: La Via del Fuoco to captivate European viewers.
Exhibition Details: Paris Venue, The Broken Arm, 12, Rue Perrèe
Exhibition Dates: November 7th, from 6 pm during Paris Photo
Upcoming London Venue: GUTS Gallery, London
Dates: November 29th, 2024
Press Contact: Sali e Tabacchi Journal, e.carassai@gmail.com