Arnaldo Pomodoro, world-renowned Italian sculptor with California ties, dies at 98
ROME — Arnaldo Pomodoro, one of Italy's most prominent contemporary artists whose bronze spheres decorate iconic public spaces from the Vatican to the United Nations, has died at age 98, his foundation said Monday.
Pomodoro died at home in Milan on Sunday, the eve of his 99th birthday, according to a statement from Carlotta Montebello, director general of the Arnaldo Pomodoro Foundation.
Pomodoro's massive spheres are instantly recognizable: shiny, smooth bronze globes with clawed-out interiors that Pomodoro has said referred to the superficial perfection of exteriors and the troubled complexity of interiors.
In a note of condolences, Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said Pomodoro's 'wounded' spheres 'speak to us today of the fragility and complexity of the human and the world.'
The Vatican's sphere, which occupies a central place in the Pigna Courtyard of the Vatican Museums, features an internal mechanism that rotates with the wind. 'In my work I see the cracks, the eroded parts, the destructive potential that emerges from our time of disillusionment,' the Vatican quoted Pomodoro as saying about its sphere.
The United Nations in New York received a 3.3-meter (10 foot, eight inch) diameter 'Sphere Within Sphere' sculpture as a gift from Italy in 1996. The U.N. sphere has refers to the coming of the new millennium, the U.N. said: 'a smooth exterior womb erupted by complex interior forms,' and 'a promise for the rebirth of a less troubled and destructive world,' Pomodoro said of it.
Other spheres are located at museums around the world and outside the Italian foreign ministry, which has the original work that Pomodoro created in 1966 for the Montreal Expo that began his monumental sculpture project.
In the 1960s, he taught at Stanford University, UC Berkeley and Mills College. 'Rotante dal Foro Centrale,' part of Pomodoro's 'Sfera con Sfera' series, can be found at the west entrance of the Berkeley campus. In 1988, Italian Prime Minister Ciriaco De Mita presented the sculptor's 'Colpa d'ala (Wing Beat)' as a gift to Los Angeles to mark the 40th anniversary of the Marshall Plan. It is installed downtown at the Department of Water and Power (now the John F. Ferraro Building).
Pomodoro was born in Montefeltro, Italy, on June 23, 1926. In addition to his spheres, he designed theatrical sets, land projects and machines.
Winfield writes for the Associated Press.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Fusion between culture and modernity as children dance in Kenya's refugee camp
KALOBEYEI, Kenya (AP) — Beads of sweat drip from the faces of young girls and boys as they dance to the rhythm of traditional drums and open calabashes, while their peers watch them in awe. These are refugee children, some who were born in one of Africa's largest camps — Kakuma, located in northern Kenya, where more than 300,000 refugees' livelihoods have been affected by funding cuts that have halved monthly food rations. The children use the Acholi traditional dance as a distraction from hunger and have perfected a survival skill to skip lunches as they stretch their monthly food rations that are currently at 30% of the U.N nutritional recommendation per person. The Acholi people, mostly from Uganda and South Sudan, are among refugees who live in Kakuma camp , which was established in 1992 as a safe haven for people fleeing conflict from dozens of east African countries. For a moment, the melodious sound of one of the refugee mothers stops the playground buzz of activity as dozens of children sit down to enjoy the traditional dance performance. The colorful swings doting the community center at Kakuma's Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement were donated by a Swiss organization, Terre des hommes, which still manages the playground aptly named 'Furaha' — Swahili for Happiness. But the happiness of these children isn't guaranteed now as funding cuts have affected operations here. Less resources and fewer staff are available to engage the children and ensure their safety. One of the dancers, Gladis Amwony, has lived in Kakuma for 8 years now. In recent years, she has started taking part in the Acholi traditional dances to keep her Ugandan roots alive. The now 20-year-old doesn't imagine ever going back to Uganda and has no recollection of life in her home village. 'I'm happiest when I dance, I feel connected to my ancestors,' the soft-spoken Amwony says after her dance session. While Amwony and her friends are looking for a cultural connection, just about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from their village in neighboring Kalobeyei Village 3, some boys are in touch with modernity. The five boys have been practicing a one-of-a-kind dance where they mimic robots, complete with face masks that hide their human faces. They make their sharp synchronized moves that they have been perfecting for months. The boys will be part of performances that will be showcased during this year's World Refugee Day, as an example of the talent and resilience that exists among the refugee community. This younger generation of dancers make precision moves in a small hall with play and learning items stored in a cabinet that is branded with an American flag, an indication that it was donated by the U.S government. Such donations are now scarce, with the United States having cut down on funding in March. These cuts have affected operations here, with the future stardom hopes for these children dimming by the day. The center, which previously featured daily programs such as taekwondo and ballet, may not be operational in a few months if the funding landscape remains as is. 'We are now reducing some of the activities because we are few. The staff are few and even per day we only have one staff remaining in the center and it is really hard for him/her to conduct 500 children,' said John Papa, a community officer for Terre des hommes in Kalobeyei Village 3. These programs do more than entertain the children — they keep them away from issues such as child labor, abuse and crime which as a major concern for humanitarian organizations in Kakuma. And as the children dance and play beneath the sweltering sun, the only hope is that these child friendly spaces remain operational for years. ___ For more on Africa and development: The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Washington Post
As the United Nations turns 80, some key moments in its history
UNITED NATIONS — There have been many memorable moments in the 80-year history of the United Nations , both at its headquarters in New York and at its far-flung global operations. Here are photos of some of the U.N.'s history-making events as the world body marks the anniversary of its founding on June 26, 1945, when the U.N. Charter was signed by 50 countries in San Francisco.
Time Business News
5 days ago
- Time Business News
The Stateless Struggle: No Passport, No Protection
Introduction: The Hidden Crisis of the 21st Century In a world where identification defines everything—from banking access to border crossings—millions of individuals exist in legal limbo. Stateless people, those without citizenship in any country, face some of the most severe barriers to survival and dignity. They cannot travel, vote, work legally, or access education and healthcare. Their identity is unrecognized, their rights unsecured, and their protection nonexistent. While conflicts, regime changes, and discrimination have long been known causes of statelessness, a new category has emerged: individuals who have voluntarily renounced citizenship or lost it due to administrative policies. In many cases, they are not refugees or asylum seekers, but people whose legal paperwork failed them or who made critical decisions without a legal safety net. This press release explores the rising global phenomenon of statelessness, its human and legal consequences, and how Amicus International Consulting helps prevent clients from falling into this irreversible trap. What Is Statelessness? According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): 'A stateless person is someone who is not considered a national by any state under the operation of its law.' Key Categories of Stateless Individuals: People born in countries that do not recognize their parents' nationality Individuals who renounce citizenship without acquiring a new one without acquiring a new one Victims of state dissolution (e.g., USSR, Yugoslavia) Ethnic minorities denied citizenship (e.g., Rohingya in Myanmar) Refugees unable to prove documentation Children born to stateless parents UNHCR estimates over 4.3 million stateless people globally—yet due to underreporting, the actual number could exceed 10 million. Case Study 1: The Stateless Child Background: A baby born to Syrian refugee parents in Lebanon was denied Lebanese citizenship (as Lebanon grants it paternally by bloodline), and Syrian officials refused to recognize the birth without registration through their consulate. Outcome: The child was effectively stateless—no birth certificate, no passport, and no future access to formal education or healthcare. Lesson: Statelessness is often inherited and becomes a generational trap. Legal Consequences: No Passport, No Protection A passport does more than authorize travel—it anchors identity. Without it, stateless persons lack: Freedom of movement Consular assistance abroad Proof of legal identity Access to financial services Eligibility for government services Stateless persons are particularly vulnerable to arbitrary detention, trafficking, forced labour, and legal exploitation, especially in jurisdictions that do not recognize their right to remain. The Invisible Lives: Statelessness in Developed Countries Contrary to popular belief, statelessness is not confined to war zones or failed states. Individuals in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and Europe may find themselves undocumented and unrecognized after: Renouncing citizenship without securing a new one Losing documents and lacking proof of origin Being born abroad to undocumented parents Stateless individuals in wealthy countries may live for decades in the shadows, working cash jobs, lacking healthcare, and unable to legally marry or own property. Case Study 2: The Stateless Entrepreneur Background: A dual U.S.-Indian citizen renounced his U.S. citizenship and applied for naturalization in a Caribbean state. His application was rejected after due diligence flagged inconsistencies. Crisis: His U.S. citizenship had already been officially renounced. India did not allow the resumption of his previous nationality. Result: For 19 months, he was stateless—denied travel, unable to renew residency in Dubai, and flagged on KYC banking systems. Amicus helped him acquire emergency residency and eventually secure Portuguese citizenship through ancestry. Statelessness and the Digital World In a digital-first financial system, identity is not just required—it's automated. Stateless individuals are increasingly being: Rejected by crypto exchanges for failing ID verification for failing ID verification Locked out of banking systems requiring passport numbers requiring passport numbers Unable to register for online platforms like PayPal, Stripe, or Airbnb like PayPal, Stripe, or Airbnb Excluded from healthcare and social services tied to national registries The lack of documentation leads to algorithmic exclusion. Statelessness in the Context of Citizenship Revocation Statelessness is not always a passive condition—it can be imposed. Governments have begun revoking citizenship in the name of national security, political punishment, or fraud allegations. Examples include: Shamima Begum in the U.K. in the U.K. Bahraini and UAE dissidents Naturalized citizens accused of financial crimes These individuals often cannot return to their home countries and are denied entry elsewhere, creating long-term statelessness. Case Study 3: The Political Dissident Background: A journalist from an authoritarian state exposed corruption in a viral blog post. He fled to Europe and applied for asylum. His country responded by revoking his citizenship. Challenge: No passport, no consulate, and no right to asylum without proving persecution with documents he no longer had. Outcome: Amicus worked with human rights NGOs and UNHCR to establish legal stateless status, opening the door to humanitarian residence in a third country. The International Response: Limited Protection 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons Grants stateless persons a basic set of human rights Recommends that identity and travel documents be issued Endorses access to education, healthcare, and courts 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness Seeks to prevent statelessness at birth Discourages arbitrary revocation Encourages naturalization pathways Limitation: Many countries—including the U.S., India, China, and many Gulf States—have not signed or ratified these conventions. When the State Says 'No' Statelessness is compounded when no country will offer: Even countries with liberal policies have bureaucratic bottlenecks that leave stateless individuals waiting years for processing. How Amicus Prevents Statelessness Amicus International Consulting specializes in preemptive planning and post-crisis solutions for clients at risk of statelessness. Services Include: Citizenship confirmation audits Second passport and residency acquisition Legal name and identity structuring Emergency travel document coordination Stateless recognition advisory (via UNHCR or national systems) We work with embassies, attorneys, and international organizations to protect our clients' right to recognition, identity, and freedom. Case Study 4: The Stateless Refugee Family Background: A family from South Sudan lost documentation while escaping armed conflict. They were denied citizenship in every country they applied to due to a lack of birth certificates and unclear origin. Problem: Three generations, including a newborn, were entirely undocumented. No schooling, no legal work, no healthcare. Intervention: Amicus and UNHCR coordinated with the host country to begin a multi-stage residency process. After six years, the family acquired permanent legal status and began citizenship proceedings. Statelessness and Women: A Gendered Problem In 25 countries, women cannot pass on citizenship to their children—only fathers can. This results in stateless children when the father is unknown, deceased, or a national of a non-cooperative state. Countries with Gender-Discriminatory Citizenship Laws: Lebanon Iran Brunei Kuwait Nepal In such jurisdictions, mothers become helpless in securing legal futures for their children. How to Protect Against Statelessness Never renounce citizenship without a verified alternative Secure a second nationality with a legally issued passport in hand Store identity documents digitally and physically in multiple locations Avoid residency-only statuses when seeking long-term security Review the nationality law of the country where the children will be born Conclusion: Identity Is More Than a Document—But Without It, You're Invisible Statelessness is not just a legal issue—it's a humanitarian crisis. Without nationality, millions live in limbo. They are denied recognition, mobility, education, and voice. While the world races toward digital borders and data-linked identities, the stateless are being left behind, unseen and unheard. Amicus International Consulting believes every individual deserves identity, protection, and the right to belong somewhere. Statelessness may be the world's most solvable crisis—if addressed proactively, lawfully, and with the proper support. 📞 Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: info@ Website: Follow Us: 🔗 LinkedIn 🔗 Twitter/X 🔗 Facebook 🔗 Instagram Amicus International Consulting offers proactive identity protection, citizenship advisory, and statelessness prevention solutions for global clients at risk of losing their nationality. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
