CEASELESS CARE originates from Anna Ill’s research in Simeri and at the Provincial Archaeological Numismatic Museum of Catanzaro. During her visits, the artist encountered a votive statuette from the 4th century BCE: a headless Kourotrophos, a symbol of care and protection in childhood. Struck by its fragmentary state—missing its head yet still rich in meaning—Ill began a reflection on the connection between care, bodily memory, and visible absence.

Inspired by philosopher Sara Ruddick, the artist interprets motherhood not as a biological condition, but as a verb: an act of care accessible to all, regardless of gender, family ties, or origin. The work transcends traditional notions of motherhood and explores a universal dimension of nurturing and protection.

The sculpture consists of two main elements of equal size: on one side, the arch—drawing from the arched retaining walls typical of Simeri—evokes the idea of refuge and protection, its curved shape resembling an architectural gesture of embrace. The figure of the Kourotrophos, on the other hand, is based on the outline of the original statuette, with particular emphasis on the arm that once cradled a child. Tilted approximately twenty degrees toward the arch, the figure suggests a relationship of interdependence between the caregiver and the space that shelters. The symmetrical dimensions of the two components—the arch and the silhouette—highlight the balance between the act of caring and the protective environment.

A third element emerges from the exploration of the territory: Opuntia ficus-indica, a plant that, when dried, reveals a texture similar to knotted fabric. The artist interprets it as a symbol of healing and regeneration, and reproduces this formal motif in steel. The weave extends from the arm of the Kourotrophos down to the ground, in a gesture of support that connects the different sculptural components.

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With CEASELESS CARE, Ill weaves together history, architecture, symbolism, and the body in a reflection on care as a collective responsibility—activated through welcoming spaces and regenerative gestures capable of supporting both individuals and communities.                                                                

Text by Ehab Halabi Abo Kher 

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Anna Ill, CEASELESS CARE, 2025, corten steel, 230 × 168 × 142 cm. Paolo Scerbo Workshop
Pedestrian walkway adjacent to Piazza Matteotti, Simeri Crichi (CZ)