GP ◦ PRINTS ◦ Italian Prints ◦ The Italian Ikebana Project ◦ DEAD PUMPKIN BLUES

Autumn, Rituals, Remembrance

There has been a lot of protest in Italy over the last couple of decades. About a certain Americanisation and the adoption—or imposition, as some would say—of foreign festivities. All mostly concentrated around Halloween.

Apart from my love for any ritual and any occasion to make a day a special day, I am here to remind everyone that, long before Halloween arrived from America, Italy already had many celebratory rituals, including that of carving pumpkins. Not necessarily on October 31, but in the days around November 2, the Giorno dei Morti, the Day of the Dead. A day taken much more seriously back then than it is today, even by the purists who so fiercely defend Italian traditions.

And pumpkins were not the only vegetables carved. Turnips were used too, with some less certain references to cavolo rapa (kohlrabi).

In my seasonal still life, though, I portrayed pumpkins and added a sedano rapa (celeriac). Not because it used to be carved (we’re not sure about this vegetable specifically), but because it is spookier than any of its cousins at a market stall.

Printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, chosen for its texture and depth.
Printed with a white border.

Edition of 10.
Signed and numbered.
Made to order.

Small — 20 × 26.7 cm / 8 × 10.5 in
Medium — 40 × 53.3 cm / 15.5 × 21 in

Small — €160
Medium — €280

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