L'oro dei poveri
This work was born in the context of a residency in which I participated, spending time in the rooms of the Cassero of the Poggio Imperiale Fortress, Poggibonsi, FI. Italy
A small house made of rye straw that I placed, depending on the day, on the small wall in front of the entrance or on the steps of the stairs. "Also called ‘the gold of the poor’, this material was used in the past instead of gold to create decorations and inlays.
A way of paying homage to the inhabitants of Poggibonsi through the symbol of the house, an element that refers to the importance and value of the building as a place of affection but also as an element of identity. Poggibonsi, a borderland, has in fact seen its inhabitants build and rebuild their homes over the centuries, at the mercy of invaders and enemies.
In contemporary times, the town instead derives its wealth from the furniture and camper van industry, a kind of mobile home."
Maria Elisa Dainelli for the catalogue Autos Opsis, Metilene Edizioni, 2025.
Picture 1 and 2 by Andrea Buzzichelli
