Marzia Banci, Ruins of Fortified Walls Brooches, 2023, sterling silver, ancient brick, local stone, varying sizes (max w 14 cm × h 8 cm)

These brooches pay homage to the medieval walls protecting small and large settlements in the Urbino county. They are engraved or embossed silver plates, some are gold plated and others are burnished with a blow torch. Each brooch represents a fragment of that defensive wall, this is why they are made with ancient brick and local stone. As ruins, they remind us of their transience. Mankind has always built walls, but a 'breach' has always opened to assert their uselessness.