L.O.V.E.
ArtistMaurizio Cattelan
Year2010 (2010)
MediumCarrara marble
Dimensions11 m (36 ft) height (including pedestal)
LocationPiazza degli Affari, Milan

L.O.V.E., commonly known as Il Dito (Italian for 'the finger') is a sculpture by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan consisting of a hand with all the fingers severed with the exception of the middle finger. The sculpture is located in Piazza degli Affari in (Milan), where the Italian stock exchange is located. The name L.O.V.E. is the acronym of "Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità" ("Freedom, Hatred, Revenge, Eternity"). The sculpture, built in 2010, was originally exhibited on the occasion of Cattelan's retrospective at The Royal Palace of Milan.[1] After the exhibition closed, the city Councillor for Culture Massimiliano Finazzer Flory proposed the piece to be permanent.[2] The business community objected to the idea but after long deliberations, facilitated by Cattelan's decision to donate the sculpture, L.O.V.E. was eventually given permanent status.[3]

Maurizio Cattelan never disclosed the exact meaning of the sculpture.[4] The two most accepted explanations are that it represents both a critique of the Fascist salute and that it is designed as a protest against financial institutions after the financial crisis of 2007–2008.[5] Indeed, the stockexchange building, Palazzo Mezzanotte, was built during fascism by architect Paolo Mezzanotte and completed in 1932.

References

  1. ↑ Angela Maderna, Michele Robecchi Arte Pubblica | Milano, Postmedia Books, Milan, pp. 28-29
  2. ↑ "L.O.V.E. – Il dito medio di Cattelan: storia e significato del più celebre dito di Milano". 17 April 2018. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Passariello, Christina (13 May 2011). "At Milan's Bourse, Finger Pointing Has Business Leaders Up in Arms". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Cattelan, dito medio davanti alla Borsa" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 14 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Why did Maurizio Cattelan put a middle finger in front of Stock Exchange?". publicdelivery.org. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.

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