At the Forum in Pompeii, you can admire the sculpture “Centauro” by our compatriot, Igor Mitoraj. The bronze figure of a centaur appeared here 10 years ago as part of a larger presentation of the artist’s work. After the exhibition ended, the other sculptures were moved, while “Centauro” and “Dedal” remained among the ruins, which are almost 2,000 years old, as permanent elements of the exhibition.
“Centauro” in Pompeii
“Centauro” depicts a figure known from Greek mythology, with the torso of a human growing out of the body of a horse. Mitoraj captured it here in a form with clearly monumental proportions. The lower part of the figure rests on three horse legs, while the overall anatomy of the animal has been simplified. The upper part of the body takes the form of a fragmentary torso and head, with deliberate gaps and deformations. The surface of the bronze is uneven, with a marked texture and patina, giving the sculpture the impression of being old, as if excavated from the ruins of Pompeii.
A sculpture rising from the ruins
An equally important element of Centauro is its elaborate base, designed as an autonomous part of the composition. It takes the form of a massive bronze block shaped like a sarcophagus, whose side walls are covered with reliefs of human busts with covered eyes. Their representations are incomplete and mostly devoid of individual features. The arrangement of the reliefs does not create a historical narrative, but evokes a general record of human presence and memory. The contrast between the static weight of the base and the silhouette of the centaur reinforces the impression that the figure is growing out of the ruins of the city.
The layered structure of “Centauro”
Underneath the centaur’s belly, there is another human torso, this time without a head or limbs. The object lies horizontally, as if crushed by the weight of the figure above. It is accompanied by two small faces, one of which has wings. The anatomy of the torso is outlined, but deliberately devoid of idealisation, and the uneven surface brings to mind an object excavated from the ground. In Pompeii, this motif is associated with the sudden interruption of human presence and the fate of thousands of ancient sculptures, known today mainly in fragments. The whole of “Centauro” is dominated by what appears to be a spear stuck in the ground.
Igor Mitoraj and his beloved Italy
Igor Mitoraj’s (1944-2014) relationship with Italy was of great importance to his work. For many years, the artist worked and lived in Pietrasanta in Tuscany, in the immediate vicinity of quarries and foundries, which had attracted sculptors for centuries. His fascination with antiquity, Greek and Roman sculpture and the aesthetics of ruins found expression in his mature creative language. The exhibition “Mitoraj in Pompeii” was presented in 2016-2017 and included 30 objects located in various parts of the ancient city. Leaving “Centaur” behind made it an integral part of the local landscape, reminding us of the artist’s lasting relationship with Italian culture and the heritage of antiquity. The sculpture stands in the Forum, the city’s main square. It was the heart of Pompeii’s public, political and religious life before the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Source: pompeiisites.org
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