L.O.V.E. Dito Cattelan - Stock Exchange Milano

myminifactory

This highly discussed artwork is situated in Milan, directly opposite the Borsa di Milano. It stands 11 meters tall and is carved entirely from pure Carrara marble. The sculpture itself measures 4.60 meters in height while its base stretches 6.40 meters across. A hand is depicted giving the Roman salute, but with fingers severed as if worn away by time, leaving only one remaining to subvert its intended meaning. The artwork is strategically placed at the center of Piazza degli Affari, directly opposite the Stock Exchange building known as Palazzo Mezzanotte, which was constructed between 1927 and 1932 during the Fascist era. The architectural style clearly reflects this period. Cattelan's work serves as both a critique of the underlying foundation of the building and an irreverent gesture towards its current representation: the world of finance viewed as stateless, globalist, and metaphorical of a new form of fascism. Lastly, it is remarkably simple to replicate, easily printable in any scale without support.