Skira illuminates Christmas nativity scene in the Vatican

The traditional ceremony of unveiling the nativity scene and lighting the Christmas tree will be held in front of high representatives of the Vatican on Saturday, 3 December, at 5 p.m. Pope Francis will receive delegations from Sutrio, Rosella and Guatemala, among whom will be award-winning Croatian designer Dean Skira and his colleagues Božidar Pustijanac and Godvin Poropat.The 18 life-size wood sculptures were made by a team of artists from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, among them the artistic director Stefano Comellia and Oleksander Shteyninher, a Ukrainian artist living in Italy.

“Light is an important part of the Christmas celebrations, so as a designer, I was especially inspired to contribute to the overall Christmas atmosphere on St. Peter’s Square. The light scenography that narratively accompanies and complements this year’s artistic interpretation of the nativity scene will appear every night after dusk, like the star of Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus,” Dean Skira said.