Installation of the Multiculturalism sculpture by Francesco Perilli

On November 1, 2008, the Italian painter and sculptor Francesco Perilli, had offered a sculpture, one of his world-known symbols of Multiculturalism and Peace, as a gift to the city of Los Angeles. The same sculpture has already been installed in the cities of Toronto (Canada), Sarajevo (Bosnia), Changchun (China), East London (South Africa) and Whittlesea (Australia), in order to join the five continents under the aegis of “MULTICULTURALISM”.

According to Perilli, the true meaning of accepting his “SYMBOL OF MULTICULTURALISM” is to highlight diversity, identity and dignity. The installation of the Multiculturalism Statue will take place on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 6:00 PM in San Pedro, at the Gateway Plaza Fanfare Fountain, corner of Swinford Street and Harbor Boulevard.

Francesco Perilli was already known by the Italian community in Los Angeles: from October 26, 2008 through January 11, 2009 he had presented some of his works at the Watts Towers Arts Center in Los Angeles, in an exhibition titled “Past Finds from the Future”.

In this exhibition the author developed the concept of Neutralism, which represents a way to criticize contemporary art and its terminology. Both cultural initiatives have been sponsored and organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute and of the COMITES, and in cooperation with the City of Los Angeles and the Ischia-San Pedro Sister Cities Associations.