The retail value of the lot is: €400

Stephen Siggillino

Rinascita (Rebirth)

Dimensions: 100 x 70cm

Acrylic and gold foil on 1.25mm cotton paper

2022

Stefano Siggillino's work Rinascita evokes the myth of Apollo and Daphne, a naturalistic tale that explains how laurel, an evergreen plant, was a sacred tree and symbol of perpetual life. The myth, narrated in Ovid's Metamorphoses, deals with the conflict between Apollo and Cupid, powerful and immortal gods that are, however, so similar to human beings when emotions and feelings come into play.

Cupid, in revenge for the arrogance of Apollo who mocked him by judging him incapable of performing well with his arrows, decided to hit Apollo with the golden arrow of love and Daphne with the lead arrow, meaning she would reject Apollo's love.

Daphne, victim of a brutal conflict between the gods, kept running away from the obsessive love of Apollo, until deciding to ask for help from her father, the river Peneus, and mother, earth Gea. In the end, her legs became a trunk, her arms reached up and laurel leaves began to grow from her hands. Daphne turned into a tree in front of Apollo, who embracing her swore that from that day on it would be his sacred plant and his head would always be adorned with laurel.

Despite the difficulties caused by the meeting with Apollo, Daphne is saved. She overcomes all difficulties, transforms, and is reborn to become a true symbol.

Life, destiny and fate don't always have nice surprises in store for us cbut hope, love and determination can be excellent allies for overcoming any obstacle.