Art is born from a feeling, from the need to believe that life is eternal. This is particularly evident in the works of Catholic painters and sculptors who often interpret the faith, celebrating the most important men who made the history of the Church.
This is the case of the La Spezia artist Andrea Benedetto who, once again, decided to pay homage to a Pope. He had already done so in 2019, dedicating “Memories” to Albino Luciani. Today Benedict celebrates John Paul II, creating a sculpture that will be donated to the Family House Museum of the Holy Father Karol Wojtyła, in the city of Wadowice, Poland, on May 18th, on the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the birth of one of the most beloved pontiffs of the modern times.
“Fides et ratio” is the title of the work sculpted in poor art by Benedict, inspired by a maxim of Saint John Paul II: “Faith and reason are like the two wings with which the human spirit rises towards contemplation of truth.” The sculpture represents a pair of glasses placed on a diary to remind us of the story. Through lenses, each of us can reread the past and treasure it for the present.
Before leaving for Poland, Benedict’s sculpture was presented to the bishop of La Spezia, Monsignor Luigi Ernesto Palletti, who appreciated it, recognizing its artistic and symbolic value: “In Fides et ratio we see the invitation to a profound reflection on man – declared the bishop – on the meaning of life, on the mystery of God and on eternity. Andrea Benedetto’s path reveals his ability to grasp not only nuances, but essential elements that do not appear at first glance at reality. Thanks to this work, we can recall the great figure of Saint John Paul II, whose light continues to illuminate the path of every Christian.”
On this occasion, Andrea Benedetto also published the “Artist’s Journey” catalogue, an anthology of his works which testify to his evolution, always marked by the valorisation of religious sentiment.
Short biography of the author
Andrea Benedetto was born in La Spezia in 1965. Self-taught, he developed his artistic experience in the fields of watercolor and arte povera sculpture. In 1987 he received first prize in the “Ekoclub – Federcaccia” painting competition and from there began a long journey of research, which culminated in his first personal exhibition in 2002, organized at the UCAI Cultural Club in his city. Today his works are placed in prestigious galleries, such as the Modigliani Art Center in Florence.
