(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 15 - Some young activists of 'UltimaGenerazione' have smeared Love, the sculpture by Maurizio Cattelan commonly known as 'Il Dito' which depicts a raised middle finger located in front of the Stock Exchange building in Piazza Affari in Milan.
Three of them were accompanied to the police station.
This was reported by the State Police, who intervened on the spot, and who are now coordinating the measures to be taken with the judicial authority.
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Right in front of the Stock Exchange, since 2010, not without controversy, the LOVE statue, otherwise known as "Il Dito", by Maurizio Cattelan, the artist who has made provocation his signature style.
It represents a hand intent on the Roman salute, but with the fingers cut off, with only the middle finger left standing.
Last Generation eco-activists smeared it yellow, adding further provocation to the work.
It is the latest action the group is taking to draw attention to the climate disaster, actions they describe as nonviolent civil disobedience.
The raised middle finger is 11 meters of pure Carrara marble, 4.60 meters of actual sculpture and 6.40 meters of base.
The location of Cattelan's statue is not accidental:
in front of the headquarters of the Stock Exchange, Palazzo Mezzanotte was built to a design by the architect of the same name between 1927 and 1932, therefore in the midst of the Fascist twenty years, as its rationalist style evokes.
In fact, the artistic name LOVE stands for Freedom, Hate, Vendetta, Eternity, as well as love in English.
The 'Finger' has been the subject of controversy from the outset and it was decided to leave it in place in 2012 at the time of the archistar Stefano Boeri councilor for culture.
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archistar Stefano Boeri councilor for culture.
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archistar Stefano Boeri councilor for culture.
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