Displayed out in the open air along the waterfront promenade, Reggio di Calabria’s eye-catching Rabarama Sculptures are a striking sight indeed. Stroll along the seafront and survey these unusual sculptures of bodies in different positions, their “skins” decorated with different colorful letters, numbers, patterns and designs.
Before your visit, read about Rabarama and her art to get some background on this fascinating artist. Rabarama is a pseudonym for Paola Epifani, a contemporary artist originally from Rome. Her large-scale sculptures have been exhibited in several public spaces including Miami’s Mizner Park, the People’s Plaza in Shanghai, La Croisette in Cannes and here in Reggio di Calabria.
Stop to inspect the three unusual sculptures from a close-up perspective. Notice how each statue takes on a different posture and each bears a distinct design and texture. Trans-lettera shows a human figure with its head resting on its knee and an arm draped over its ankle, with various letters adorning the outer layer. Labirintite shows a semi-reclining figure bearing a textured, maze-like pattern. Co-stell-azione, meanwhile, depicts a figure in an almost yoga-like pose with a diamond pattern of white and dark red.
Circle the sculptures on foot to see them from different angles. Bring along a camera to take pictures of the very unusual sculptures.
Continue wandering along the waterfront promenade and admiring the views across the water. The esplanade overlooks the Strait of Messina and the island of Sicily beyond. Look for Mount Etna, an active volcano, visible from certain parts of the walkway.
Find the Rabarama Sculptures along the Lungomare Falcomatà, Reggio Calabria’s seafront promenade. While you’re in town, be sure to see Reggio Calabria’s other famous sculptures, the Riace Bronzes, a pair of 5th-century B.C. statues recovered from off the coast of Riace in the province of Reggio di Calabria. Find the Riace Bronzes in the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia.
