Born in 1948 in Rotondi Valle Daudina. He lives in Turin.
Mainolfi is well-known for his clay-sculptures. But he also draws continually. Mainolfi calls the iron wire constructions, of which the installation in the »Giardino«is one, »drawings in the sky«.
Fertile Earth
1999/2000
iron terracotta
In a hollow in the Giardino, unique ground conditions have brought forth an very special species. 4-6-metre high »mushrooms« rise up out of ground surrounded by a hedge and stretch their reddish-brown, bell-shaped heads towards the sky. The »stems« of Mainolfi’s sculptures are elaborately created iron constructions: six people worked for weeks, placing 3000 welding points in order to construct the towering »stems«, which now appear so very delicate and light as air. Their size and form leave no doubt that these »mushrooms« are a symbol of the extraordinary fertility of the »Giardino«.
