Created for the theme “Love in Crisis” as part of the Summer Show Exhibition at The Counihan Gallery Brunswick, the sculpture shows Pinocchio at the grave of the Azure Fairy, a guiding spirit of the heart. She seems absent, yet her presence is undeniable which conveys a paradox of distance and intimacy. Through her trickster-like ways, she teaches Pinocchio empathy, responsibility, and the collaboration of heart and mind. Love becomes both fragile and resilient, made “real” only when both learn to work together in a balanced way.
Pinocchio’s Alpini-inspired hat carries layered meanings. The white feather signifies innocence, the red band evokes sacrifice, and the green echoes heritage, together forming the Italian flag. It reflects the legacy of Italy’s mountain troops who were guardians of people and nature and also part of my own experiences in the Dolomites, where stillness and resilience leave lasting lessons. Resting on the ground beside him, the hat conveys a moment for reflection and growth both a tribute to those who have fallen and a pause in Pinocchio’s journey in becoming “real”.
Creating this sculpture was intense and hands-on, with only four days to complete it after changing my original gallery concept. Every decision mattered, from constructing the puppet to sanding the clear-coated backdrop. Each pass risked exposing the undercoat and ruining delicate airbrushed colours. In the end, I patched a small imperfection, unsure if I should have left it but the process itself became part of the work, a meditation on imperfection, persistence, and reflection.
The sculpture reflects the delicate balance between heart and mind, presence and absence, love and grief. Pinocchio’s journey mirrors our own: trust must be nurtured, love can be fragile yet resilient, and growth often comes through loss. In a world dominated by efficiency and digital replication, the work also celebrates the value of tactile, imperfect, hands-on creation. Like Pinocchio, we become real not through perfection, but through the courage to feel, reflect, and continue to trust in the power of love.
