Protecziun da la patria, 2018

Cor-Ten steel
∅120 cm
In a closed sea, in a neutral nation

Protecziun da la patria is a work created on the occasion of the exhibition “Mutazioni in difesa della natura”, curated by Al Fadhil with Anna Radaelli and organized by the Municipality of Maroggia from 9 September to 7 October 2018.

A mine in Ceresio

The floating sculpture is an interpretation of a naval mine, a large sphere equipped with 22 bumpers placed symmetrically between them. It's a harmless version of a war device in use during recent historical world wars.
Its position in Switzerland, a neutral nation and the historic seat of world organisations active in the defence of peace, raises controversial contemporary visions regarding the defence of the integrity of borders and the “free” migration of people on Earth.
From a first superficial perception of alarm and danger, after a more careful observation, we pass to the exorcism of the war potential in favour of an anthropomorphic reading that can be linked to the roundness of the shape and to the quiet snouting in the “closed sea”, Lake Lugano.

Underwater inspection of the deadweight anchorage system

Photo © Stefano Dondi

Protecziun da la patria, 2018

Cor-Ten steel
∅120 cm
In a closed sea, in a neutral nation

Protecziun da la patria is a work created on the occasion of the exhibition “Mutazioni in difesa della natura”, curated by Al Fadhil with Anna Radaelli and organized by the Municipality of Maroggia from 9 September to 7 October 2018.

A mine in Ceresio

The floating sculpture is an interpretation of a naval mine, a large sphere equipped with 22 bumpers placed symmetrically between them. It's a harmless version of a war device in use during recent historical world wars.
Its position in Switzerland, a neutral nation and the historic seat of world organisations active in the defence of peace, raises controversial contemporary visions regarding the defence of the integrity of borders and the “free” migration of people on Earth.
From a first superficial perception of alarm and danger, after a more careful observation, we pass to the exorcism of the war potential in favour of an anthropomorphic reading that can be linked to the roundness of the shape and to the quiet snouting in the “closed sea”, Lake Lugano.

Courtesy Sigma Ingegneria, Italy

Lugano Lake

Photo © Davide Fontana

Installation Bissone, 2022

Installation in Bissone, 2022

Photo © Stefano Dondi
Photo © Stefano Dondi
Photo © Stefano Dondi

Massimiliano Monaco, underwater artillery and photographer

Photo © Davide Fontana
Photo © Susy Albieri

Underwater inspection of deadweight

Photo © Stefano Dondi
A collective backstage on the work of Umberto Cavenago floating on Lake Lugano. Many contributed with the filming. Videoforart edited it.
Postproduction Videoforart.it

Detail of the bumpers

Laying the ballast in water

Underwater inspection of deadweight

Photo © Stefano Dondi

Laying in the water

Freshwater fllotation test before the placement

Dock of Melano, Switzerland

Production of Cor-Ten sheets

Production of Cor-Ten sheets