A new work by sculptor and ice-cream impresario Francesco Trani
Artist Francesco Trani has succeeded in combining the professions of traditional ice-cream maker with that of sculptor. In fact, this eclectic sculptor has decorated both the interior and exterior of his ice-cream store, which over the years, has become something of an art gallery!
But Francesco Trani has always wanted to support and even enhance Taranto, where his many sculptures are found throughout the city – the Sirens, which adorn the reef in Mar Grande, the famous Ninfa carved from an entire pine log and his latest achievement – a sculpture dedicated to the 44th President of the States United States of America – Barack Obama.
His representation of President Obama sitting on a bench in shorts and a T-shirt with 44 displayed on his chest, could not be further from classical works of the great and powerful that we are accustomed to seeing around the world.
The work was created by Trani to pay homage to both the man and this historic turning point for not only his country but for the whole world. The sculpture, in its disarming simplicity, is unique in its kind, and the artist has said he hopes that Obama was told of its existence during the G8 summit held in L’Aquila in July 2009.
The sculpture in honour of the 44th President of the United States of America Barack Obama made in Italy by the sculptor Francesco Trani is located in Taranto on Via Alto Adige.