Land art portraits: Ludwig van Beethoven and more

Dario Gambarin creates land art in fields using a tractor. He portrayed the Italian poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri for the upcoming 700th anniversary of his death in 2021. The depiction includes a quote from the author of the "Divine Comedy": "Amar perdona," which refers to a famous line on love and forgiveness.

Depicted with his long hair and beard, the "universal genius" Leonardo da Vinci can also be recognized from above in this work. It was created to mark the 500th anniversary of the Renaissance master's death in 2019. Dario Gambarin spent eight hours plowing 27,000 square meters of fields near Verona for this portrait.

Gambarin's oversized landscape artworks are often dedicated to famous personalities. In July 2017, he created a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin near Verona, in northern Italy, just a few days before the start of the G20 Summit in 2017, which was held in Hamburg.

The gigantic symbol of the United Nations combined with a peace sign was created near Verona in September while world leaders were meeting at the UN headquarters in New York. With this work, Gambarin aimed to draw attention to the purpose of the organization, world peace.

In 2016, Gambarin also plowed in a field a reference to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue from Rio De Janeiro, covered by the Olympic rings. With the words "Rio 2016," this work was dedicated to the Summer Olympic Games held in Brazil.

Gambarin's land art often promotes political messages. In 2016, as Hillary Clinton was running for US presidency against Donald Trump, he portrayed the Democratic candidate along with words of support: "You must, you can." Gambarin created the work when Clinton fell ill, hoping it would give her strength to pursue her campaign.

This greeting to Pope Benedict XVI was created in 2013. One day after its completion on February 26, the head of the Catholic Church resigned from his office. In his works of art, land artist Gambarin refers to personalities, but also to events of historical proportions. Unfortunately, they are short-lived works that disappear when it rains.

Dario Gambarin also plowed a tribute to Pope Francis: On September 3, 2013, a good six months after he took office in March of that year, Gambarin created a portrait of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, adding the words: "Love liberates."