The hand of a
fascist artist
laser engraved rubber stamp
engraved zinc plate
2024
The work reconstructs Arturo Martini's right handprint by compiling fragments of fingerprints recovered from his sculptures. These fragments were meticulously collected and combined using methods akin to those employed by forensic sciences.
Arturo Martini, one of the leading Italian sculptors of the early 20th century, maintained an ambiguous relationship with the Fascist regime. Although highly esteemed by the authorities, who commissioned him to create several public monuments, Martini’s response to the regime’s fall revealed a contradictory stance: he concealed or destroyed many of his fascist-themed sculptures, while simultaneously accepting commissions to honour partisans who had resisted the dictatorship. During a trial about his ties to fascism, Martini defended his acceptance of public commissions with a defeated irony: he likened himself to a shoemaker, crafting shoes without concern for the customer or their purpose.
The reconstructed handprint, frozen in a pose evocative of the Roman salute, has been laser-engraved onto a rubber stamp, suggesting its potential use to imprint his incriminating fingerprints onto new sculptures. The handprint is presented on a hand-polished zinc plate, marked by my own fingerprints, permanently etched into the surface during its creation. These indelible traces act as evidence, binding me to the work, holding me publicly accountable as its creator.