Untitled

The work of Luca Francesconi (.1979, Mantova, Italy), examines natural processes found in the food chain and food production. The subject of (natural) transformation, such as decomposition or various fermentation processes and their symbolic value, serves as a point of departure for examining contemporary modes of production and consumption. Tied to the medium of sculpture and sculptural installation, Francesconi brings together various natural elements, which echo the formal aspects and the functioning of the human body, while emphasizing our fading relation to nature and its ecosystems. By proposing news and environmentally sustainable alternatives to production and consumption, Francesconi aims to resuscitate our regard to the land and the environment.

Part of a larger group of semi-figural sculptures, composed of recycled metal and vegetables, Untitled (2016), scrutinizes the act of the agricultural consumption and our role within this process. Making the medium of sculpture the point of departure for the piece, the work’s essence is articulated through the performative act of choosing and placing an agricultural product of one’s choice, on top of the sculpture’s metal part, described by the artist as a metal pedestal. Its anthropomorphic nature than points to the systems tied to present-day agriculture and our role within this process, transforming thus modes of consumption into one’s political position.