The work IL SUONO DEL CARBONE (THE SOUND OF COAL), is inspired by the work of charcoal burners in the Pistoia area, and it was conceived specifically for the Museo del Novecento e del Contemporaneo di Palazzo Fabroni, Pistoia. The work consists of two elements designed to be placed in different locations, about 200 meters apart, yet connected through the various spaces pertaining to the museum: Carbonaia (Charcoal Mound), made of reinforced concrete and copper leaf elements, is located in the Carbonile Garden adjacent to Palazzo Fabroni along Via Santa; and Macchina sonora (Sound Machine) placed inside a small room of the permanent collection on the museum’s first floor, is a sculptural device capable of reproducing sounds and noises evocative of charcoal mounds and forest work.

The two parts are in constant dialogue: thanks to a QR code system, the audio produced by the machine inside Palazzo Fabroni can also be heard by those standing in front of the sculptural element in the Giardino del Carbonile. As a whole, the work not only forges a relationship between space and viewer, but also presents itself as a striking and evocative visual/sonic element.

 

The project was curated by Lorenzo Madaro and is promoted and organized by the Municipality of Pistoia with the support of PAC2024 – Piano per l’Arte Contemporanea, promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture.

 

CARBONAIA (CHARCOAL MOUND)

Made of reinforced concrete and copper leaf elements, this sculptural piece recalls the form of a charcoal kiln (carbonaia). Unlike traditional kilns, which typically have a conical or rounded shape, this version appears diagonally cut, exposing its interior and transforming into a kind of revealed or sacred element.

The most significant aspect of the work lies in its “skin”. The concrete surface bears the imprint of formal elements chosen for their evocative power. On the outer surface, the impressions and folds left by a series of layered blankets and sheets are visible, materials symbolically connected to the sense of care and protection that charcoal burners devoted to the kiln during the complex phases of their work. On the inner surface, by contrast, the imprints of logs and wood are reproduced, symbolically evoking the technique used by the charcoal burners and revealing the kiln’s heart, its usually hidden core and soul.

 

MACCHINA SONORA (SOUND MACHINE)

Created in collaboration with master organ builders Andrea Michelozzi and Samuele Maffucci, this chestnut wood and metal device draws inspiration from Pistoia’s long-standing organ-building tradition, which has been rooted in the city since the 16th century. Through the movement of air generated by an electric fan housed in its base, the device sets into vibration a series of flue pipes after passing through several stages.

The resulting soundscape evokes the characteristic acoustic atmosphere of forests and charcoal moulds: the crackling of wood, the hiss of smoke, the creaking of charcoal, birdsong, the wind, and a melody adapted for organ from the folk song Lamento del carbonaro in Caterina Bueno’s version. The 31 notes that make up this melody are also symbolically inscribed on the surface of the external carbonaia through copper leaf inserts that entirely cover the imprints of 31 pieces of wood and bark. The carbonaia thus becomes, symbolically, the musical score of the sound machine, establishing a continuous dialogue between the two elements and between interior and exterior.