Pietro Marchese is a nationally renowned sculptor. After receiving the award at the Irpinia Biennale a few days ago, he returned for a few days of vacation in his native Syracuse, the city where he was born and where he then left for Liguria, where he now lives and works. He has created two precious works for Syracuse: the siren of Plemmirio, an immersed statue dedicated to Rossana Maiorca, and the statue of Archimede on the ravelin of the Umbertino bridge. For months, there have been appeals and requests for maintenance on the latter, while the lighting system has slowly collapsed. “All the cities in Italy would like to have a character of this caliber. We have him, but we treat him badly,” Pietro Marchese told Siracusa oggi.it. “Archimede is a genius known throughout the world. He deserves more attention and care, to worthily preserve his memory and greatness. I am sorry that even today the function of the work we have created has not been understood, a space that is also a reflection and inspiration for future generations, preserving the historical memory of Syracuse through the most illustrious citizen. Instead – continues Marchese – I only witness sterile social polemics about whether the statue is beautiful or ugly, small or large”.
And perhaps the little care and attention that the monument of Archimedes has received in recent years does not help either, almost making it detached from the context if not for a few willing groups of tourists. “As Syracusans we must all preserve, respect and give due care to the work and the character. In the early years, this attention was there. Then no more. I therefore ask the mayor to restore an annual maintenance service”, the appeal of the sculptor who created the statue of Archimedes. “I know that work is being done on it and I am happy about it. I also thank the city councilor Burti and the councilor Gibilisco who as Syracusans, before being administrators, have personally taken to heart the fate of Archimedes”.
The full video with Pietro Marchese’s statements