Evagrio Pontico was one of the most important fathers of the Egyptian desert, and in his words a monk is someone who, separated from everyone, is united with everyone. Starec Zosima gives the same message to the Karamazov brothers in Dostoevsky's novel: Separated from all, he is united with all.

The work The Starec is a copper triangle with an obtuse angle, it can only remain upright when extended, if raised it needs a counterweight to avoid falling, the work is naturally unbalanced, the message of Evagrio/Zosima " separated from everyone, he is united with everyone" is reported on one side of the work in English, it can only be seen if someone takes charge of the copper sculpture and becomes a counterweight, otherwise the work returns to being form.