The Moon’s Kiss 1979

Valerio Adami's "The Moon's Kiss" presents us with a stark interplay of symbols rooted deeply in classical antiquity and the human psyche. A statue reminiscent of ancient Greek sculpture strides purposefully, while the moon, personified, watches from a window. The moon here evokes not only nocturnal mystery but also, historically, the feminine principle, intuition, and cycles of change. We might recall Selene, the Greek goddess, whose nightly chariot ride across the sky mirrors the cyclical nature of life and death. Below, a winged helmet sits atop a pillar. The helmet is of Mercury, the Roman god who carries souls to the afterlife, evoking ancient rituals of communication with the divine. These images are imbued with what I call “pathos formulas,” visual tropes that trigger deeply ingrained emotional and psychological responses. The juxtaposition of a classical figure with the moon taps into our collective unconscious, engaging viewers on a profound, subconscious level. The power of myth endures, resurfacing in new forms.