The city of Florence pays tribute to Dante Alighieri with a 22-meter-high tree installation by Giuseppe Penone in the Piazza della Signoria. The sculpture, titled Abete, alludes to an upcoming group exhibition at Uffizi Galleries in June.

Long related to Arte Povera, Penone’s work focuses on the relationship between humans and nature, seeking inspiration from Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. 

The inaugration of Abete is organized by Uffizi Galleries, the city of Florence, the Regione Toscana, in collaboration with the Arte Continua Association.

"The mission of our association is to combine the energies of our associates with public commitment through non-profit organisations, to overcome with culture and knowledge the challenge that fear always brings, and to restore dignity to life. A sincere thanks to the artist, to the director of the Uffizi, Eike Schmidt, to the president of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani, to the Mayor, Dario Nardella, and the councillor for culture, Tommaso Sacchi, to the Arte Continua members and staff who have made possible the prelude to the exhibition Alberi In-Versi by Giuseppe Penone that will open at the Uffizi on June 1st.“ 
—Mario Cristiani, President, Arte Continua Association

Giuseppe Penone 
Abete, 2013
Stainless steel, bronze
2240 × 600 × 600 cm

Photo by Ela Bialkowska, OKNOstudio
Photo courtesy of Associazione Arte Continua APS