The Paillon Promenade continues its evolution. Following several installations carried out in recent months, Antoniucci Volti’s work Nikaïa has now been installed near the water basin. This hammered copper sculpture, commissioned in 1960 by the city of Nice, marks a new phase in showcasing municipal collections in public spaces.
The Paillon Promenade season 2, inaugurated on October 18, now features a route of works from the MAMAC and the city of Nice’s collections. This project is progressing step by step. Several pieces have already found their places among the green spaces, relaxation zones, and play areas. The installation of Nikaïa adds a new element to this rapidly developing ensemble.
Nikaïa is a four-meter-high sculpture made of hammered copper. It was commissioned by the city of Nice in 1960. The work represents a stationary female figure in an upright posture with a smooth surface that captures the light. The material reflects a soft glow that changes with the time of day. This vertical presence creates a focal point in a highly frequented area, located near the water basin and close to the play area.
The silhouette reflects the artist’s pursuit of balance in forms. The lines are simple, and the volumes are solid. The overall composition recalls ancient references without imitation. Volti combines a stable and contained feminine representation with a modern approach to the material here. The choice of title also signifies a direct connection to the city. By this name, the sculptor pays homage to Nice, which he knew well and appreciated.
In his thoughts on his practice, Volti stated: “Sculpture is a fundamental need for man. It could be said that it ranks just after the discovery of fire. Fire provided man with material comfort, and art allowed him to commune with the gods.” This statement summarizes the importance he placed on creation and the spiritual dimension of his work.
Who was Antoniucci Volti?
Antoniucci Volti, born in 1915 in Italy, grew up in a family settled in Villefranche-sur-Mer. His father was a stonecutter. Early on, he learned attention to gesture and material. In 1928, he entered the Nice School of Decorative Arts. The gold medal he earned at the Marseille Fair in 1932 confirmed his initial direction. In the same year, he left for Paris to take classes under Jean Boucher at the Beaux-Arts.
His career was marked by years of intense work. He created molds, decorations, or paintings to support himself and received several awards. Drafted and then ill, he returned to Paris in 1943. His studio was destroyed in a bombing. He then considered that his artistic past had disappeared. This break pushed him to revive his work with a new signature: “volti.”
From 1945 onwards, he received public commissions. He exhibited in various salons and began teaching wood sculpture in 1950. His solo exhibitions followed one another, and he participated in projects in France and abroad up to the 1980s. The establishment of the Volti Museum Foundation in Villefranche-sur-Mer in 1981 affirmed the anchoring of his work in the Mediterranean region. He passed away in 1989.
In his overall production, Volti placed women at the center. He studied the body from live models, producing numerous sketches. He worked with roundness, tension, and presence. His sculptures sought a direct relationship with the viewer. The forms are not decorative; they express a human presence stripped of movement but charged with energy.
His works can be seen in numerous French cities. Nikaïa, created for Nice, now occupies a space in a widely frequented public area, where the sculpture interacts with the landscaped environment.
