Il Grande Cretto : lettura critica sull'opera di Alberto Burri realizzata a Gibellina, che è sia scultura, dal forte carattere pittorico, che architettura e urbanistica

Abstract

Alberto Burri’s Grande Cretto. A most original interpretative hypothesis is proposed here with regard to the extraordinary masterpiece by Alberto Burri (1915-1995), that is to say, the brilliant Grande Cretto, located near Gibellina vecchia (old Gibellina), in Sicily. This work, borrowing from Land Art, constitutes a unicum on the world scale, in terms of its vast size and profound significance. Built in cement over the rubble of the old Sicilian town, devastated by the1968 earthquake, it comprises, at the same time, sculpture, architecture and urban-planning. From an initial reading of the most authoritative critics, therefore, we reinterpret it in accordance with the thinking of Martin Heidegger and the eminent art-historian Alois Riegl. In this way, two essential currents of research are brought together in enhancing fresh points of view regarding the Grande Cretto. Mention is also made of the ideas of Marcello Fabbri and Antonella Greco, according to whom there is the particular aspect of a settlement and triumph over death. Lastly, we are dealing with a decidedly current topic, both as regards the 50 year-commemoration of the earthquake in Gibellina and the internationalization of Alberto Burri’s work.