Canopus: Water, Myth, and the Sky

Giulio Cinti unveils a monumental installation at Expo Osaka 2025

A sculpture that bridges constellations, legends, and cultures—where form becomes story, and story becomes space.

Giulio Cinti, an artist represented by Nuar Gallery, takes center stage at the Italian Pavilion of Expo Osaka 2025 with his monumental installation Canopus—a striking fusion of art, mythology, and contemporary design. Positioned at the heart of the Italian exhibition route, Canopus is not simply a sculpture or a monumental fountain: it is a fluid, cosmic, universal narrative.

A work flowing between myths

Canopus is born from a dialogue between two worlds: the classical heritage of Greco-Roman antiquity and the poetic spirituality of Japanese folklore. The symbolic foundation of the work draws inspiration from the Summer Triangle constellations, particularly the legends of Orpheus and Eurydice on one side, and Orihime and Hikoboshi on the other—figures that in both traditions embody love, separation, and the yearning for reunion across the heavens.

Water, the central element of the sculpture, becomes the narrator: fluid, silent, and reflective, it leads the viewer on a poetic journey where earth and sky, matter and spirit, converge.

Technology, matter, and vision

Giulio Cinti’s work stands out for its monumental presence: contemporary materials, surfaces that engage with light, reflective dynamics, and flowing water combine to create a fully immersive experience. While technical specifications have not been publicly disclosed in detail, the installation clearly demonstrates advanced design, capable of engaging both space and visitor.

In the context of Expo Osaka—where water is a core theme, as seen in the interactive fountain system of the Water Plaza—Cinti’s installation finds fertile ground for expanding the very concept of public art.

A cultural bridge beyond the Expo

Canopus will be on display at the Italian Pavilion until the close of Expo on October 13, 2025, and will continue its journey as part of the exhibition "Atlante Farnese and the Treasures of the Italy Pavilion" at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts, running through January 12, 2026.

This extension highlights the cultural and symbolic relevance of the work and affirms Giulio Cinti’s presence on an international stage of the highest caliber.

Giulio Cinti and Nuar Gallery: A language expanding

Nuar Gallery is proud to represent Giulio Cinti, whose artistic research fuses architectural precision, classical mythology, and contemporary technology. Canopus marks a pivotal moment in his journey—an installation that transcends traditional sculpture to become an immersive, global cultural experience.