Italian sculptor Massimiliano Pelletti has masterfully breathed new life into classical sculptures by seamlessly blending tradition with modern imperfection. Rooted in the artistic heritage of Pietrasanta, Pelletti’s works transcend mere replication, offering a refreshing twist on ancient aesthetics. His use of fragmented Mexican onyx serves as both medium and metaphor, giving rise to a series of captivating busts that celebrate beauty in flaws. This deliberate embrace of imperfection challenges the pursuit of classical ideals and reflects the nuanced complexity of contemporary humanity. By integrating natural fractures into his carvings, Pelletti creates a dialogue between the past and present, offering a tactile metaphor for the fragility that unifies human experience across the ages.
Pelletti’s sculptures resonate with a wide array of admirers, ranging from classical art enthusiasts to those captivated by modern expressions. His art successfully bridges generations, inviting all who encounter it to reflect on their unique journey of beauty and imperfection. By capturing the poetic balance between perfection and the everyday realism of fractures, Pelletti’s work extends an open canvas for personal interpretation and connection. This daring twist on classic forms challenges our traditional views on aesthetic values. Through these art pieces, each scarred and imperfect surface tells a universal story, fostering a shared understanding that imperfection is not merely a flaw but an integral aspect of authentic beauty.
In antiquity, classicism represented the divine perfection and also man’s ambition to rise to that perfection. In my work, I simply made this ambition more earthly, closer to us, to the contemporary man, with all its defects and its fragilities. (…) I found that my work appeals to collectors of any age, from the oldest and to the youngest generations. The beauty, the balance, the poetry are things that belong to everyone or almost everyone. If you can balance them in the right way, you can reach anyone.
Massimiliano Pelletti
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