Viavai Project, Racale
Year 2014
Title Eraclia / Omnia Mutantur
Photo Matteo Bandiello
‘Eraclia’ takes its inspiration from the history of the town of Racale as well as the elements of its seal.
Two black hands casting the shadow of a wolf serve as reminders for the famous Rome’s she-wolf featured in Racale’s seal, probably due to Eraclio, a roman freedman who founded the town.
XII and VI numbers symbolize the twin brothers Romulus and Remus, who, according to Rome’s foundation myth, asked the Gods for a sign to claim the right of foundation of the city. Romulus saw twelve auspicious vultures, while Remus just six.
As a second theory about the genesis of Racale suggests that a Heracles’ worship site was once built in the very same area of the town during greek occupation, the olive club at the bottom of the painting refers to the legend of the divine hero’s slay of the Nemean Lion, in which an eradicated olive tree was used by Heracles as a weapon against the monster. The region surrounding Racale is in fact filled with olive trees.
