I protect you: Stone sculpture by Francesca Bernardini

I protect you (Ti proteggo) is a sculpture by the Italian artist Francesca Bernardini from the series Nests, Cocoons, Crysalis.  The series Nests, Cocoons, Crysalis, begun in 2000, was the artist’s first production. The sculptures in this series are closed forms, containers that evoke protected and intimate places: nests represent the home and the family, cocoons and chrysalises are protective envelopes where one develops and transforms in complete safety. The series was born out of a moment of personal internal exploration by the sculptor, around her need to protect her loved ones as well as her desire for family and motherhood.   Francesca Bernardini’s marble sculptures, with their smooth, rounded forms, are rooted in states of mind, emotions and personal experiences. The shapes and volumes that give them form are often inspired by the natural world and are loaded with symbolism linked to universal themes: personal development, the importance of human interaction, respect for nature and the cycle of life. The artist summarises her artistic research as follows: “Inspired by the observation of the microcosm of the natural world, my work emphasises particular details and distorts dimensions, my forms becoming containers of past life or of inner or emotional metamorphoses.” The indicated dimensions include the iron base of the sculpture. The sculpture is maintained on the base with a rod but it is movable. Dimensions of the sculpture: 14 H x 24 L x 16 D cm. Dimensions of the base : 0,5 H x 30 L x 18 D cm.