Un continuo ritorno

Son of an island, Sardinia, Costantino Nivola builds his own personality from the combination of a poor anthropological heritage, related to the dimension of myth and spontaneity, and the encounter- clash with modernity. “Tino”, migrated to America in 1938, elaborates a vision of modern art as a synthesis among the irrational nature of his home village, Orani, and the elementary order of the form that he learn from fertile friendships in New York, particularly after meeting Le Corbusier. Torn between several identities and determined not to sacrifice any of them, like an exile, he will return to his land to give back the lessons learned overseas. The graffito on the facade of church Nostra Signora d'Istria in Orani and the exhibition of his works, set up in the streets of the village in 1958, are just some of the examples that demonstrate the strong feeling of rootedness that binds himself to the island. As a geographical and cultural dimension, Sardinia will be for Nivola inspirational for many of his sand-casting works, including female figures reminiscent of Neolithic idols found in the island. The reference to the primitive, to the figure of the ancient matriarchy, to the rustic house and bread, define a positive and authentic value in his production, as demonstrated by The Pergola Village project, a creative synthesis between sculpture, architecture and urban art. After having worked alongside architects such as Rudofsky, Sert, Saarinen or BBPR studio, the artist develops a personal vision of the relationship between sculpture and architecture, emphasising the social function that the two arts perform in the construction of a community space. Thus, his life - a metaphor of a journey, punctuated by moments of escape and return from the island - takes form through works that celebrate a new bond with rural rituals, with a sense of community and the suggestions of nature, without ever abandoning a modern figurative language with a universal and highly topical value.