Iron and Man. The human spirit gracefully fused with the raw essential substance,
never to result in a trivial contrivance. The beginnings are no different than those
experienced by countless generations of men from the South. An apprenticeship marked
by hard work in local workshops. Quite soon though , the repetitive manufacturing
process of wrought iron gates and windows, albeit handcrafted, starts to contrast
heavily with the artist’s creative calling. It is time to embark on a far more captivating
challenge, and, totally self taught, he starts to seek out, and reach, the outer
boundaries of his very own creativity. With time, the apparently inert, cold metal,
is shaped and moulded and finally brought to life, to address the conscience and
stir the innermost feelings of mankind. The blacksmith’s forge, the hammer and the
mind, all as one evermore harmonious unity, shape the iron, creating objects whose
collocation among the multitude of artisan, crafted goods can no longer be justified,
but which should be, alas, and rightly so, considered and admired for what they
are: fine works of Art.
Erasmo Amato’s work is never simply transformation, it is indeed an innate and natural
shaping into submission of matter. Fire and Iron are there: in the falling soldier
of the Monumento ai Caduti in Maiori, to warn us of the horrors of war; in the profiles
of dancers, to declaim vital emotions; in the crucifixion, a moribund Christ that
looks down towards the Earth, not up to the sky; the beautiful eagle that doesn’t
want to remain on the ground. Amato’s Art is always absolute realism.
Below are some of Amato’s works commissioned by public institutions:
- 1987 Bronze bas-relief realised to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the raising
to the status of Diocese of the town of Minori
- 1983 Monument to the Fallen Soldiers – Maiori
- 1996 Sculpture for the “Premio Maiori” given to the Rt.Hon. Carla Capponi – Gold
Medal for the Resistance
- 2001-2004 Sculptures for the Roberto Rossellini cinematographic awards
- 2004 Burning brazier as Monument to the Fallen in Minori