Libera dalle Catene(Free from the Chains)
Client: Municipality of Catanzaro
Support: Fund for Legality
Project Overview
I’m very happy to share my latest project, created for the Municipality of Catanzaro as part of a project supported by the Fund for Legality and the Protection of Local Administrators Victims of Intimidation (2025–2027).
Titled “Libera dalle catene” (“Free from the Chains”), the artwork was created for a staircase in the heart of S. Leonardo Gardens, Catanzaro, Calabria, a lively meeting place for many young people in the community.
The idea was to turn an everyday space into something more: a shared symbol, a visible message, and a reminder of the importance of legality, courage, and collective responsibility.
Through illustration and color, the staircase becomes a space for reflection — where art can bring these values into everyday life.
Concept
“Libera dalle catene” (“Free from the Chains”) depicts a girl sitting on a rooftop, watching a hot-air balloon rise freely into the sky, carrying a broken chain.
The balloon becomes a symbol of hope, change, and positivity, with colors inspired by Libera, the Italian organization that has been fighting the mafia, corruption, and all forms of illegality for many years.
The broken chain represents breaking free from fear, silence, and omertà, becoming a symbol of freedom, awareness, and civic participation. At the same time, it refers to the pressure and intimidation faced by local administrators and by those who choose to serve their communities through public life.
Ultimately, the broken chain becomes a metaphor for breaking the grip of crime and reaffirming the values of democracy, legality, and civic courage.
The Process
You can watch a short video of "the making of" here