Viewpoint – Casole d’Elsa, Arte All’Arte

Once upon a time, deep in the heart of Tuscany, the ancient hilltop town of Casole d’Elsa was filled with plastic objects in the name of art…

The small 12th century town of Casole d’Elsa near Siena saw its main street completely transformed by this unusual work of art in 2001. The quirky and colourful piece by Thai artist Surasi Kusolwong was exhibited as part of the Arte All’Arte project.

A2FF09 ART IN ITALY ARTE ALL ARTE TUTTO A MILLE LIRA 1000 LIRE MARKET LIFE GOES ON FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS 6 INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ARTISTS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO CREATE SPECIFIC PROJECTS IN ONE OF 6 ANCIENT TOWNS IN TUSCANY ITALY THE ART WILL BE ON SHOW FROM OCTOBER TO EARLY JANUARY 2002 THE ARTIST SURASI KUSOLWONG IS EXHIBITING THE ABOVE TITLED PIECE IN THE 12thC HILLTOP TOWN OF CASOLE d ELSA NEAR SIENA SURASI WAS BORN IN AYULTHAGA THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF SIAM AND NOW LIVES IN BANGKOK ALL THE OBJECTS IN HIS WORK COST LESS THAN A THOUSAND LIRA 35p AND ALL COME FROM THAILAND COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN HARRIS

Launched in 1996, the event invited six artists from all over the globe to create a work of art in one of six Tuscan towns. Each object used in this piece, entitled 1,000 Lira Market, was made in Thailand and cost 1,000 lire (35p). Intended as a criticism of consumerism, Kusolwong’s unique artwork temporarily turned this charming ancient town into
a kitsch, colourful playground of plastic.