Much of Alberto Garutti’s work examines public space, the connection between artist and viewer, and the way in which the work embeds within the social context of its location. The exhibited work – commissioned by Fondazione Zegna in Trivero, Italy in 2009 – is a series of public benches on which sculptures of local dogs are positioned. Each bench bears the caption: ‘The dog shown here belongs to one of the families of Trivero. This work is dedicated to those families and to the people who will sit here and talk about them.’

Garutti explains: ‘When I was asked to do a work about the territory, I immediately thought about dogs because they resemble their owners, not just physically, but also psychologically; then, because they have the territory in their noses; and, nally, because they are a marvelous metaphor for art- like works, they establish a dialog and talk with everyone. What interests me is that the work should spread like a wave through the social fabric.’