the statues, the trellis and the base ready

Dies Natalis, the show of Raffaele Ascenzi’s new Macchina begins to take shape. At the headquarters of the builder, the company headed by Vincenzo and Mirko Fiorillo, work proceeds like clockwork, to ensure that everything is ready for the debut of the structure on September 3rd. The base is already visible outside the shed, plus part of the pylon. Inside, however, it is already possible to admire the beauty of the very first statues that will surround the reconstruction of the scene of Santa Rosa’s death, together with the four supporting columns.

Here’s how it goes. «We are working on the pylon – says Mirko Fiorillo – a very important part. Being made of aluminium, i.e. not the classic iron, it has a more complex process: it requires different welding and more care.” Why aluminium? «Because Dies Natalis has many allegories, therefore due to a question of weight, otherwise we would not have met» the 50 quintals – or little more – required. There are five truss parts in total. «Unlike Gloria, also on an aesthetic level, Dies Natalis is different: the base of the previous Macchina went upwards in a curvilinear way, this one does not. The trellis changes not only in the material, but also in the shape: Gloria’s was triangular, this one starts from four columns and is then empty inside because it has to accommodate Santa Rosa lying down. The allegories currently created are part of those that will be placed above the base. A very rich and elaborate sculptural group.”

They were created in a computerized manner. «We insert files into the PC – continues Fiorillo – then a cutter reads them and reproduces the figures from a block of EPS polystyrene, denser than the commercial packaging that everyone knows. Furthermore, it is then coated with polyurea, which gives hardness to the statue.” The candlesticks are made of aluminium, many of these have already been mounted on the base. «They start from there – explains the builder – and reach the top, up to the end of the structure. In total there will be 304, for me they are very beautiful and scenic.”

From now on, this will be the case. «As we go up, in a parallel manner we assemble the aluminum with the statues». At the test of the pylon, on 7 July, «we will see the base and the first part almost complete: we will assemble the outermost allegories because they will serve as indicators in Corso Italia». They are the ones that risk rubbing the most, on which measurements must be taken even with the balconies that protrude, rather than with the bottleneck on the street. «The Machines generally become slimmer as you go upwards, while Dies Natalis remains imposing and wide along the entire length». The test will be carried out from Piazza del Plebiscito in Piazza Verdi. «The necessary parts of the machine will be assembled the day before, the entire pylon for the static and dynamic test to check how it carries. This is to see how he responds with the Facchini underneath – concludes Fiorillo – how he distributes the weight and whether he gives heavy shoulders. It’s a great satisfaction, but we have to do it.”

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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