Italian artist Salvatore Garau has sold an unusual artwork—an invisible sculpture called Io Sono (which means “I am”)—for a staggering $18,000 (over Rs 2.7 million). The buyer, whose identity remains unknown, purchased this unique piece through an auction held by Art-Rite in May.
Initially, the sculpture was expected to sell for a price between $7,000 and $11,000. However, due to the buzz and excitement surrounding it, the final bid ended up being much higher.
What makes this artwork extraordinary is that it is entirely invisible—it does not physically exist. Garau describes it as an “immaterial” sculpture, meaning that its true value lies in the concept behind it rather than in any tangible form. He explains that even though the sculpture is not visible, the space it occupies is not truly empty. Instead, it is filled with energy, following the principles of quantum physics.
Garau refers to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to support his idea. This scientific principle suggests that even in a vacuum—where there seems to be nothing—there is still energy and tiny particles forming and disappearing. In this way, the artist argues that Io Sono is not just empty space but something that holds meaning, energy, and thought.
