Ep 5: Francesco Vullo on how rocks tell stories of place and self
Ep 5: Francesco Vullo on how rocks tell stories of place and self
Season 3 Sicily
Francesco Vullo under “11:42”, his first permanent outdoor sculpture, located in the park of Torre Mammona, Assisi.
In this episode of Art Destinations Sicily, we speak with contemporary artist Francesco Vullo, whose sculptural practice explores the tension between permanence and ephemerality. Born in Caltanissetta in central Sicily and now based in Milan, Vullo reflects on his deep connection to the island’s geology, drawing on childhood memories of rock collecting with his geologist uncle and stories of sulphur miners from his family’s past.
Francesco shares how he works with materials like limestone, lava rock, and plastic bands to create poetic installations about environmental fragility, emotional states and deep time. From sculpting volcanic stone in his countryside studio to showing work during Milan Art Week, Vullo balances the very different two worlds.
In this episode we cover:
How Sicily’s layered landscape shapes Francesco’s art
The material, cultural and historical symbolism of sulphur, marble, lava, and limestone
The influence of the 1960s/70s radical Italian art movement Arte Povera on Vullo's approach to materiality
Navigating the Italian art world as a young artist today
Follow Francesco’s work on our Instagram page @artdestinations.podcast
BIOGRAPHY
Francesco Ideale Vullo is an Italian artist based in Milan and Sicily, whose work primarily revolves around sculptures and installations. He uses a wide range of materials and ordinary objects to craft thought-provoking narratives, often delving into the paradoxes of modern life.
Fascinated by the symbolic power of objects, he explores their ability to evoke emotions and preserve memories. His sculptures often incorporate natural elements, discarded items, and industrial materials, reflecting on the human condition, collective memory, and the tension between the natural and artificial world.
