First Came the Ocean, 2024

Sculpture, 30 x 7 m

First Came the Ocean rests on a meadow in Juac, Selva di Val Gardena in the Italian Dolomites. It is inspired by an Ichtoyosaurus, a large marine reptile that lived 250 million years ago, when the alps were coral reefs in the Trissaic Ocean. Fossillized bones from one of these animals were found on nearby Monte Sceceda. The sculpture is made of storm fallen and fungus infected trees from the planted forests in the area.

The sculpture was part of Biennale Gherdëina 9: The Parliament of Marmots.

Photo: Tiberio Sorvillo