Doves are often used as symbols across various cultures and contexts, pointing at love, purity and romance, charity, renewal, hope, freedom and peace. They are therefore perfect symbols in our current troubled times in which winds of war blow on our existences and quite often we overlook the importance of compassion towards our fellow human beings.
Doves are also linked with Easter and today it's Easter Monday, so let's explore the theme of the dove in a creative way. Many years ago we saw some dove symbolism in fashion adverts and in a DIY creation (doves often appeared in fashion - remember Yves Saint Laurent's dove dresses from his S/S 1988 Haute Couture collection? View this photo), but for today let's move from an interior design piece - the black velvet sofa "Colombra" (1997; manufactured by Partner & Co.) by the late artist and fashion and interior designer Cinzia Ruggeri.
The name is a playful pun, blending "colomba" (Italian for "dove") and "ombra" (meaning "shadow"). The design consists in an elongated oversized black velvet sofa, mimicking the shadow cast by a human figure in the low setting sun or under a light source. Though the figure may initially appear ominous, its threatening demeanor is subverted by an unexpected gesture. With arms raised above its head and hands crossed at the wrists, the figure forms the silhouette of a bird, a dove caught in flight and projecting its silhouette on the wall.
This piece offers therefore a playful twist: the shadow seems to engage with the viewers, creating an unexpected projection, extending an almost inviting gesture of poetry and peace. In a nutshell, while seemingly menacing, it reassures us of its benign presence.
Linguistically this clever design may also contain a reference to the short story "Il colombre" by Italian writer Dino Buzzati (who first praised Ruggeri as a young painter in the presentation for an early exhibition, so there was a mutual appreciation between the two).
In the tale, the "colombre" (or colomber as it is usually translated in English) is a fictitious creature. Stefano's obsession with the colomber leads him to spend his life at sea, constantly pursued by the creature and constantly fleeing it. Eventually, after decades, Stefano confronts it, only to discover that it meant no harm and it was never his enemy but a messenger bearing a valuable gift of peace. However, it is too late for Stefano, and he realizes that his life has been consumed by his misguided pursuit. The story explores themes of obsession, fate, and the consequences of one's actions.
The moral of this story may be the key to unlock the meaning behind Ruggeri's sofa: the anonymous dark shadow may look threatening, but it carries with it a gesture of peace and love, so, just like the colombre, it means no harm.
So today, let's reflect on the symbolism of doves, embracing peace, creativity, design and literature as well, recognizing that oftentimes, what we fear may actually be a bearer of love and goodwill. I'm including in this post Buzzati's "Il colombre" in Italian (Download Il colombre_DinoBuzzati_ITA) and my translation into English (Download The Colomber_Dino Buzzati_ENG) in case you want to discover more about it (cue for Cinzia Ruggeri's fans, but spoiler for who wants to read the story: there may be another connection with the designer in this tale - the colombre gives a very special pearl to Stefano and Ruggeri often incorporated in her designs white pearls).
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