VIRIDITAS - L'ultimo superstite

 Gilda Lavia Gallery (Rome) is pleased to present VIRIDITAS – L’ultimo superstite, a solo show by artist Leonardo Petrucci that will open on Tuesday, October 22 at 6 pm.

 The exhibition draws inspiration from the second phase of alchemical transmutation, Viriditas or the green stage. Through a new series of works created specifically for the show, Petrucci presents an alchemical and symbolic journey, delving into the symbolic meaning of the praying mantis, a recurring icon in his artistic production.

Although the mantis is often associated with the act of cannibalism, the artist shifts the focus to the surviving figure, which becomes a symbol of resilience and rebirth. It is a tribute to all those who, despite adversity, have remained alive as true survivors.

 From paintings to natural specimens, sculptures and digital installations, the exhibition's path unfolds in a circular manner around the central pillar of the gallery where a series of charcoal works reinterpret the illustrations of a 17th-century alchemical treatise, in which the act of cannibalism takes on an exclusively human dimension, following the principles of life, death, and rebirth.

 The figure of the mantis, with particular attention to the surviving male version, dominates the perimeter walls of the space in its various declensions, inviting us to reflect on the theme of cannibalism not only from an anthropological but also a spiritual perspective.