Memorial for Portella della Ginestra (1979)
Palermo, Italy
Returning to Italy in 1980, de Conciliis explores in depth the problems inherent in working with nature and landscape by creating a site-specific "land art" work (surely the first in Italy) at Portella della Ginestra.
—Maurizio Marini,
Art Historian
Through his skill in constructing and remodeling the landscape, the artist conveys a sense of holiness of place.
He succeeds in expressing this holiness and in bringing it forth by his use of space, the vitality of the construction materials, and the majesty of the height of the stone masses that are planted like seeds in the territory.
—Maurizio Calvesi,
Art Historian
The Memorial moves from the tragedy of a momentary historical event towards a vision that is ecological and anthropological, almost mythical.
The tragic and naturally solemn fascination of the work lies in its strict fidelity to the place of the tragedy, in its respect for the environment, and in its use of a language of expression that consists entirely of rocks and boulders that come from the land itself.
—Enrico Crispolti,
Art Historian
The Memorial is semicircular and enclosed by a low wall. One enters it by way of a stone path that extends for forty meters and is flanked by a stone wall constructed without the use of mortar.
It is composed of large masses of local stone, each varying from two to six meters in height. Some are erect like menhirs and others are arranged like enormous masses scattered at random in the landscape. Each of the stones marks the place where one of the eleven victims fell.
—Enrico Crispolti,
Art Historian
The Memorial’s primordial essentialness conjures up images of mysteriously sacred symbols of the Mediterranean.
The impressive environmental project, essential, clear, and highly communicative in its power to evoke emotions, can be viewed in its entirety as a sacred whole.
—Enrico Crispolti,
Art Historian
Through his vision of other places and scenes, de Conciliis has been able to create a pristine sanctuary teeming with a secret life that is far removed from the chaos of ordinary places.
Silence and holiness: These are the themes which, deeply internalized through the Portella della Ginestra experience, have become driving forces within him.
—Maurizio Calvesi,
Art Historian
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