AFTER PANGEA
October 15, 2024 to November 04, 2024
Temporary installation
Library of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt

From October 15 to November 4, 2024, the prestigious Library of Alexandria in Egypt hosted After Pangea, a site-specific installation created by Emilio Ferro. This work was part of the exhibition Tale of Two Cities, organized by Art D’Égypte/Culturvator. With this work, Ferro poetically combines the solidity of marble with the evanescence of light, creating a dialogue between matter and immateriality, between the tangible and the ethereal.

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After Pangea consists of five marble blocks, all finished with a chisel technique. These imposing blocks (240 cm in height, 130 cm in width, and 4 cm in thickness) feature different colors and converge to form a pentagonal structure with a 5-meter diameter.

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At the center of this configuration lies a luminous circular platform, 70 cm high and with a diameter of 75 cm. Visitors are invited to walk towards this luminous altar, immersing themselves in an experience that blends physical and spiritual space.

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The marble blocks, each a different color and originating from various geographical areas, symbolize Earth's continents and represent human diversity and heterogeneity.

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The luminous core at the center of the installation symbolically evokes the sun, the universal source of light and life, referencing ancient solar cults such as that of Ra in Pharaonic Egypt and Helios in Greek mythology. Everyone, without distinction, comes from the same source and is drawn back to it, in an eternal return to the light.

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As people move through the space of the artwork, they reach the luminous core, an invitation to reflection and meditation. The simultaneous presence of the public around the light represents the collective aspiration for harmony and peace among peoples, reconciling cultural differences in a symbolic universal embrace.

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The installation recalls the monumental pillars of ancient Egypt and the marble sculptures of ancient Greece, evoking a historical continuity that spans centuries. With After Pangea, Ferro not only celebrates the past but also suggests a path to overcome the complexities of the present. The artist strongly expresses the belief that overcoming current historical challenges depends on the sincere and shared commitment of each individual.

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Supported by Marmonil, After Pangea presents itself as a work that invites us to look beyond barriers and embrace the possibility of harmonious coexistence among the peoples of the world.

After Pangea | Photo: Roberto Conte | © 2024 Emilio Ferro