Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 2

Alberto Echegaray (Cayman)
Pinocchio

2018

About the Item

The metallic Pinocchio, which was chosen by the European Cultural Institute to participate in the Venice Biennale in 2019, uses the figure of the Italian puppet and the allegory of the novel by Carlo Collodi, to make the viewer reflect on global corruption today. The sculpture created in polished stainless steel was presented for the first time in the city of Buenos Aires during the last G-20 Summit right in front of the venue where the dignitaries of the participating countries were meeting. The Argentine artist represents the scandals of corruption in his country and the world, the incessant lies of politicians and rulers, fake news, global lies on social media, and the lie within the human being through the character of Pinocchio. The artist developed and designed a wooden Pinocchio in the first phase, which evolved into a 3D printer technology project. Initially, organic materials were used, and later, high-tech polymers were used, eventually progressing to an outdoor steel structure. The sculpture, made of polished stainless steel, is the first of its kind created with this technology by an Argentine artist. Echegaray Guevara took one of the global icons of lies: Pinocchio. The ambiguity between puppets that superficially move to the rhythm of a heartless world, facing transparency and the strength of humanity. "We must reflect and see the opportunity we have to improve as a society," he assures. Everyone lies at least once a day, and even when we don't interact with others, people lie to themselves in their own silence. The history of lying is biblical, it's part of humanity and constitutes a mystery studied by all sciences. Studies indicate that men and women lie between 2 and 200 times a day. Pinocchio is one of the best-selling works of all time, created in 1882 by the Freemason Carlo Collodi (Le avventure di Pinocchio) and translated into more than 250 languages and dialects. Some talk about the influence of Freemasonry in the work. The right path is achieved through knowledge and wisdom. "What had been a block of wood and then a puppet, finally became a real person, after overcoming the adversities that presented themselves." In this way, through the tale of Pinocchio, an allegory about the formation of people based on honor, virtue, and truth is shown. The story is influenced by alchemical culture, mainly by the concept of the "homunculus," a being attributed with the power to give life to inanimate matter and whose immediate desire is to serve its master and become a real human or not be an imitation. In this case, Gepetto embodies the alchemist. Pinocchio the puppet had the gift of life, but he was not a real man. Only real life in its fullness, after enlightenment, brings forth the Pinocchio-man. Because Pinocchio the puppet, despite being alive, is not a true man. This enlightenment is represented in a Pinocchio no longer made of wood but of steel, steel as hard as the inner strength that resides within each one of us and as solid as the truths provided by science. The steel's ever-changing color throughout the day symbolizes the mutual possession of the individual's life states as well as the oscillating field of matter demonstrated by quantum physics. This Pinocchio-man also personifies the duality within our hearts, choosing with free will the connection of humanity with science and the end of deceit and lies. This Pinocchio is the modern representation of escaping our traps, a naked, transparent Pinocchio, in connection with the light. The project was born after Alberto Echegaray Guevara (CAYMAN) received the Best Global Emerging Artist award in Dubai in 2016. At that time, he met and had various meetings with artist Jeff Koons in Qatar, the USA, and Buenos Aires. The influence of Jeff Koons has been crucial, as the artwork combines the concept of internal reflection (metaphysics of being) with the reflection of light. The artist developed and designed a wooden Pinocchio in the initial phase, which evolved into a project involving 3D printing technology. Initially, organic materials like wood were used. Then, high-tech polymers were utilized, followed by a transition to a steel structure for outdoor use. Finally, after testing various materials, it was decided to use the same technology and construction as artist Jeff Koons – Polished stainless steel. It was fabricated in Germany at one of the leading steel mills with these capabilities.
  • Creator:
    Alberto Echegaray (Cayman) (1970, Argentinian)
  • Creation Year:
    2018
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 51 in (129.54 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 11 in (27.94 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Miami, FL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2735214510412

More From This Seller

View All
Moneyball (US Dollar)
Located in Miami, FL
THE PROJECT Searching for historical context, I conducted a research inside the Secret Archives of the Vatican, the Museo Real de Sevilla, the Real Casa de Potosi, the Temple of Fre...
Category

2010s Sculptures

Materials

Stainless Steel

Havana’s Balcony
Located in Miami, FL
The inspiration for the sculpture comes from a trip Garaizabal took to Havana. “I have a series of pictures of Havana’s balconies. Grandpas, grandmas, all people are speaking and tal...
Category

2010s Sculptures

Materials

Concrete, Steel

Generational Human
Located in Miami, FL
A generation refers to all the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively. The sculpture is connected with systemic constellations, a method of addressing i...
Category

2010s Sculptures

Materials

Steel

Encanto
By Jimenez Deredia
Located in Miami, FL
Jiménez Deredia was born in Costa Rica on October 4th, 1954. In 1976 he opens his art studio in Carrara where he remains permanently. Deredia graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts ...
Category

2010s Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Meditation man
Located in Miami, FL
Meditation has been a cornerstone of spiritual practices for centuries, offering numerous mental and physical health benefits. It involves training the mind to focus on a specific ob...
Category

2010s Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Steel

Macbeth (A Dagger of the Mind) in stone
Located in Miami, FL
Addressing the timeless themes of mortality, desire and fate, the piece explores the dance between smoker and brand. Rose reflects on the Machiavellian branding tactics such companie...
Category

2010s Pop Art Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

You May Also Like

PARISIANSUMMER
By John Chamberlain
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
JOHN CHAMBERLAIN PARISIANSUMMER 2006 Painted and stainless steel Unsigned 15" x 17" x 11 1⁄2” Chamberlain began to explore metal sculpture in the late 1950s, finding his signatu...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

'Aria, ' by Marko Kratohvil, Stainless Steel Sculpture
By Marko Kratohvil
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
In this stainless steel sculpture by Marko Kratohvil, the graceful curves of two smooth steel segments meet in movement creating an abstracted figural form. This table top sculpture ...
Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Stainless Steel

"Crucible" Abstract, Metal Chain Link Sculpture by John Ruppert
By John Ruppert
Located in New York, NY
"Crucible" by John Ruppert Aluminum chain link fabric, stainless steel Over the past 35 years, John Ruppert has been working in cast metals; manufactured...
Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Stainless Steel

"Crucible" Abstract, Metal Chain Link Sculpture by John Ruppert
By John Ruppert
Located in New York, NY
"Crucible" by John Ruppert Aluminum chain link fabric, stainless steel Over the past 35 years, John Ruppert has been working in cast metals; manufactured...
Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Stainless Steel

"Vessel" Abstract, Metal Chain Link Sculpture by John Ruppert
By John Ruppert
Located in New York, NY
"Vessel" by John Ruppert Anodized aluminum chain link fabric, stainless steel Over the past 35 years, John Ruppert has been working in cast metals; manuf...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Stainless Steel

Silver Pencil
By Iran do Espirito Santo
Located in San Francisco, CA
Edition of 25
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Prints and Multiples

Materials

Stainless Steel

Recently Viewed

View All