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A statue of Bitcoin founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, was recently unveiled in Lugano, Switzerland by artist Valentina Picozzi. The statue, a year and a half in the making, features a faceless figure on a laptop, disappearing from certain views but leaving an image of Nakamoto interspersed with lines of code. The statue sits in front of Lugano’s Villa Ciani, symbolizing its commitment to digital innovation. Notably, this isn’t the first statue honoring the crypto-creator; a bronze figure was erected in Budapest in 2021.

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There’s a new disappearing statue dedicated to Bitcoin’s founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, unveiled recently in Lugano, Switzerland. The artist behind it, Valentina Picozzi, says it was a long project, taking a year and a half of study and three months to build.

Picozzi, who shares her creations under the name Satoshigallery, wanted to use her art to connect people to Bitcoin culture. She said that this piece took a total of 21 months to finish due to the unique qualities it had.

The statue shows a figure without a face working on a laptop. Seen from the side, you get a clear idea of what it is, but from the front or back, it becomes less defined due to its unique design. The artist explained that the statue seems to disappear when looked at from certain angles, leaving an image of Satoshi Nakamoto visible between lines of code.

Picozzi, an artist and orthodontist from Italy, first discovered Bitcoin in early 2012. Since then, she’s been using her art to spread awareness about it. The statue is made of 304 stainless steel and corten block and is situated in front of Lugano’s Villa Ciani, a mid-19th-century mansion that now hosts events.

The statue was unveiled at Plan B’s annual gathering in Lugano, an event which brings together leaders of the blockchain industry, government officials, and Bitcoin fans. Picozzi said that the statue also celebrated the event and Lugano’s Mayor, Michele Foletti, who’s been keen on introducing blockchain technology to the city.

Foletti commented that the statue symbolizes Lugano’s commitment to digital innovations. He said, “Lugano is rapidly becoming a leading hub for digital innovation, and this statue honors Satoshi Nakamoto but also embodies the forward-thinking spirit that drives our city.”

In the meantime, Picozzi has clarified that her art won’t always be at its current location. Plans for its final placement are still up in the air, but it will remain part of the permanent collection of Parco Ciani in Lugano.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a city has put up a statue of Bitcoin’s mysterious founder. A bronze statue of Satoshi Nakamoto was erected at Budapest’s Graphisoft Park in 2021. Sculptors Gergely Réka and Tamás Gilly designed the figure wearing a hoodie to have a mirror for a face, intended for visitors to see themselves in the sculpture, suggesting that anyone could be the creator of Bitcoin.

Source: Cointelegraph