In 2001, the architect Dario Castellino, who had just begun working on the renovation of our current space in the old Mazzonis textile factory in Torre Pellice, asked us for a permanent sculpture by Richard Long, on behalf of the Comunità Montana Valle Stura and in the context of the interregional programme “Valle Stura – Un itinerario tra cultura e arte”.

An artist we have always worked with, Richard conceived an ad hoc sculpture for the Forte Albertino of Vinadio out of local stone, as per his practice, and so grey and white marble from Valdieri, but working on a larger scale than usual. Measuring more than eleven metres in diameter, Forte di Vinadio Circlewas conceived to remain permanently on site, an area marking the border between France and Italy.

The gallery oversaw the project from start to finish, going with the artist to the marble quarries and supervising the creation of the piece up to its final installation. The sculpture is located inside the Forte, which was built in the first half of the 19th century to keep the French from entering the Cuneo Plain. Today, the Forte is home to the Museo Montagna in Movimento, an important cultural centre that spearheads ambitious programmes devoted to local reclamation and valorisation.