Coat rack in soft polyurethane, finished by hand with Guflac ®. Detachable eggs (stools) in soft polyurethane, upholstered with fabric. Guido Drocco and Franco Mello, designers of the 1972 Cactus, together with Maurizio Cattelan agreed on important steps. It was necessary to destroy the icon to end the idol. But how to do it? Maurizio, aware of the golden calf, realized that the only way to eradicate this phenomenon was to insert in the icon an animal element, which was considered unpopular among the peoples who worship the cactus. It is a pity that they did not take into account that eggs are considered divine signs of fertility and regeneration. It was a big mistake: a new god was born. The cactus with the eggs is now GOD!

Maurizio Cattelan is an enigmatic and provocative figure in the contemporary art world, renowned for his irreverent and often unsettling creations. Born in Padua, Italy, in 1960, Cattelan’s artistic career has been characterized by a penchant for challenging societal norms and conventions, frequently blurring the line between art and reality.

One of Cattelan’s most famous works is perhaps his sculpture titled “La Nona Ora” (The Ninth Hour), which depicts Pope John Paul II being struck down by a meteorite. This piece, unveiled in 1999, caused widespread controversy and condemnation from religious groups, yet it also propelled Cattelan into the international spotlight, establishing him as a fearless provocateur unafraid to tackle sensitive subjects.

Throughout his career, Cattelan has continued to push boundaries with his art, using humor, irony, and subversion to critique various aspects of contemporary society. His installations often feature unexpected juxtapositions and absurd scenarios, forcing viewers to confront their own preconceptions and prejudices.

One of his most audacious works is “America,” a fully functional solid gold toilet installed in the Guggenheim Museum in 2016. Visitors were invited to use the toilet, blurring the boundaries between high art and everyday experience while also commenting on issues of wealth, excess, and inequality.

Cattelan’s work is characterized by its irreverence and its willingness to challenge the status quo. Whether he’s suspending a taxidermy horse from the ceiling or creating a life-size wax effigy of himself hanging from a coat rack, his art consistently defies categorization and demands attention.

Despite his success and notoriety, Cattelan remains something of a mystery. He rarely gives interviews and shies away from the public eye, preferring to let his work speak for itself. Yet, through his art, he continues to provoke, inspire, and challenge audiences around the world, cementing his place as one of the most influential artists of his generation.