Maria Loboda

Hypermaremma is excited to announce the opening of its new season with an evocative installation by international artist Maria Loboda titled To Separate the Sacred from the Profane.

This installation features a striking four-meter-high circular gate, inspired by the ‘chinowa’, which is installed within the picturesque setting of the Archaeological Park of the Ancient City of Cosa in Ansedonia. The ‘chinowa’, a traditional Japanese Shinto object, serves as a symbolic gateway for purification. In Shinto belief, crossing through a ‘chinowa’ represents a transition from a state of impurity to one of purity, allowing individuals to move from sin into a sacred space. Loboda’s installation cleverly connects the ancient Eastern Shinto traditions to the rich historical tapestry of the Archaeological Park, which dates back millennia. Positioned at a crucial intersection between the forum — where political and commercial activities took place — and the sacred area of the Capitolium, the temple dedicated to the Capitoline Triad of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, this artwork provides a unique dialogue between cultures and epochs.

Loboda’s work emphasizes the power of form and symbolism, drawing from diverse cultural backgrounds to create new meanings that resonate in contemporary contexts. Through her installation, she invites viewers to reconsider the relationship between modernity and ancient practices, challenging them to explore new aesthetic and mystical values within the framework of contemporary archaeology.

With the support of Parchi Archeologici della Maremma.

Thanks to Vistamare Gallery.