ARNALDO POMODORO (Morciano di Romagna 1926–lives and works in Milan) SFERA. 1966. Bronze with golden patina. With the incised signature, title, date and number on the plexiglass base: Arnaldo Pomodoro "SFERA" 1966 - 1/2. Diameter 27 cm. Professionally polished. Provenance: - Semiha Huber, Zurich. - Private collection Switzerland. Literature: Gualdoni, Flamino: Arnaldo Pomodoro. Catalogo ragionato della scultura, Vol. II, Milan 2007, no. 393 (with b/w ill.). Website: www.arnaldopomodoro.it/catalogue_raisonne/, no. 393. “The sphere is a marvelous object, from the world of magic, wizards, whether it is of crystal or bronze, or full of water ; it is also the mother’s womb, I think…” Arnaldo Pomodoro The Italian Arnaldo Pomodoro was one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century. He developed a unique and distinctive visual language that makes his works instantly and clearly identifiable. He uses universal, geometric forms such as columns, discs and spheres as a starting point and "violates" them with his own poetic, vivid formal language to reveal the imperfection in the otherwise controlled universe of abstraction. Perhaps the best-known complex of works are the so-called "Spheres". At first, he would deconstruct the underlying sphere so that the surface would consist entirely of broken elements. Over time, he began to encase his works again. The present work from 1966 consists of a perfectly polished, reflective sphere at the bottom and top. In between, the hollowed-out interior opens up, with individual carved-out elements reminiscent of machines or technical components. When one looks at his works, including the pillars or discs, Pomodoro always returns to the same forms and structures, which reflect his fascination for everything technical, but also his love of theatre. They are like an alphabet without translation. Even the artist cannot decipher these signs, and so they remain mysterious and poetic at the same time. Through their constant repetition, however, this alphabet seems to tell stories that nevertheless lead into the unknown. Arnaldo Pomodoro's spheres originate in the tension that exists between the perfect exterior and the lesions and cavities within. The unusual complexity of the interior contrasts with the immaculate mantle. The details are in conflict with the whole. The artist himself describes it this way: "For me the sphere is a perfect, almost magical form. Then you try to break the surface, go inside and give life to the form".