«Ccreate a lasting and significant symbol of civilization and peace to celebrate Gorizia and Nova Gorica, European Capital of Culture 2025.
A work that went beyond the event to become a beacon of identity for the territory, reflecting the history of the border, its wounds and, above all, its rebirth as a bridge between cultures and nations”: pursuing this objective, the artist and designer Celia Stefania Centonze conceived and created the public art work, GO! Pharusinaugurated last October 18th in Gorizia.
It is a contemporary obelisk, ten meters high, which combines architectural strength and spiritual depth, between past and future, spreading the light of culture as a tool for reconciliation and discussion in one of the most emblematic places in the areain the symbolic border square, close to the border with Slovenia.
The meaning of GO! Pharus
The name itself calls for action and hope. “GO!” is the acronym of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, but it also represents an exhortation to “go” beyond the old borders, towards a shared future. Pharus (lighthouse, in Latin) embodies the function of the work: be a luminous guide, a point of reference not only geographical, but ethical and cultural, which illuminates the path of coexistence.
The value of a beacon of peace, in an era marked by conflicts
«In an era marked by new global uncertainties and nearby conflicts, the value of a beacon of peace is fundamental. Gorizia and Nova Gorica, with their history of border, division and finally peaceful reunification, represent a laboratory of civilization for the whole of Europe” states Centonze.
GO! Pharus, in fact, it is not only a monument to peace, but a constant warning: remembers the consequences of divisions and celebrates the power of cultural dialogue. It is the light that pierces the darkness of misunderstandings, a sign of hope and an affirmation of the founding value of peaceful coexistence.
The importance of drawing on the past to build the future
«The obelisk – adds the artist – draws on historical memory not to remain anchored to nostalgia, but to extract the most precious lesson: resilience and the ability to rebuild. Rekindling the value of the past means honoring those who suffered from division, but above all transform that past into propulsive energy. Its light is the energy of the present and the luminous projection of the common future, an ideal bridge that overcomes the temporal border as well as the geographical one.”
Slim and colourful, GO! Pharus is made of steel and chromed glass that interacts with light and the environment. During the day they reflect the sky, at night they light up from inside, transforming the obelisk into a real urban lighthouse.
«Its spirituality lies in its essence as a collective symbol, an artistic expression that actively involved the community, transforming an art object into a relational asset as well as a catalyst of hope» specifies Centonze.
The urban lighthouse that involves the community
Indeed, some children from the school were involvedChildren and Autism Association of Pordenonewho created the mosaic at the base of the obelisk. «Their creative contribution, pure and free of prejudice, represents the beating heart of the project: a concrete sign of inclusion and collective participation, without barriers» he adds.
The work also includes poetic verses engraved on the glasstaken from authors such as Ungaretti, Prešeren, Saba, Michelstaedter, Macor and Korschann, painted by the artist Marco Nereo Rotelli. The words, in multiple languages, evoke brotherhood and the futureadding a literary and contemplative dimension to the structure.
The artist Celia Stefania Centonze in front of her work – Credit Pierluigi Bumbaca
The cultural encounter dissolves the darkness of intolerance
In this way, combining art, social commitment and hope, the work stimulates reflection and dialogue, creating a shared identity around universal values such as peace and coexistence.
«We demonstrate that culture illuminates the future. Noin knowledge the darkness of intolerance dissolves» comments Centonze, addressing above all the new generations so that, believing in these values, they can contribute to building a Europe in which culture is “the light that makes borders just lines on maps, not walls in minds”.