Called the “Master of Figurative Sculpture” and the “Poet of Form，” Cecco Bonanotte is one of the most prominent sculptors in Italy. His creative works delve deep into the human conscience and are influenced by a sensibility for time and space.
     If one looks at one of his statues，such as Colloquium currently displayed in the Italian Senate，Palazzo Madama，you can see the shape of a man standing upright on a bronze surface. He is not as masculine as ancient Greek sculptures ― his body，with its thin arms and legs and dented abdomen exudes a little terrifying atmosphere. However，the way he looks up the sky，raising his right shoulder a little，and the look on his face indicate hope for the future.
     Bonanotte says，“In the depth of the human mind there flows deep feelings such as joy，sorrow and love. I want to express the continuity of deep human sentiments through shape.” However，he declares，“I have no interest in the human physique. I am only interested in their spirituality.”
     The statues of human beings in his well-known pieces such as Confrontation，Awaiting and Tightrope Walkers sometimes show unusual features such as hands and heads fused together，partly chipped bodies，strangely crooked heads. But at the same time the statues extend their hands upward and look up into the sky as if they were about to fly. His works，imbued with profound spirituality that questions the meaning of human existence，are highly acclaimed throughout the world.
     He was born in Porto Recanati，a small town in the middle of Italy. His father was a furniture maker. “My toys were chisels and pieces of wood. I used to make dolls and play with them.” He was naturally drawn to sculpture and after leaving school he went to the National Academy of Fine Arts，School of Sculpture in Rome where he won a number of scholarships and quite a following.
     He created the Porta Nuova (New Door) in 2000 for the new entrance to the Vatican Museums and in 2006 he made a bronze portal for the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris. In 2010 The Apocalypse was placed in the marble baptistery at Church of Santa Croce in Vinci; the baptistery where Leonardo da Vinci was baptized.
     Bonanotte has had a strong connection with Japan since 1975 when he presented Flight Awaiting for the Ocean Expo in Okinawa. He visits the country on a regular basis to work in his Tokyo studio and finds inspiration in Japan，in particular in the Zen temple gardens in Kyoto. He says，“With their simplicity，strictness and harmony，those gardens fill my heart fully. Japan has given me a lot of things.”
     He continues to work with passion and enthusiasm saying，“I want to express poetic sentiment through my sculpture. This is my greatest ambition.”