A 5 metres tall block of marble has huge potential. But it presents huge challenges: even just handling its mass is a logistical nightmare, especially in 15th century Florence. Given its size, there will almost certainly be natural imperfections and structural weaknesses hidden somewhere. Michelangelo knew this when saw the block nicknamed “Il Gigante”, but that is not what he saw. He saw the “David” waiting to be freed from the superfluous rock around it. This is how Gixante looks at data.
“Non ha l’ottimo artista alcun concetto ch’un marmo solo in sé non circoscriva col suo soverchio, e solo a quello arriva la man che ubbidisce all’intelletto.”
“The best artist has no thought which a marble shell does not circumscribe with superfluous, and that is all his hand can reach when it follows his intellect.”
Michelangelo Buonarroti