Commission by “Centro visite Lesina”
Date: June 2022 – Size approximately 18×7 meters – Located in Lesina, Puglia
Medium: water based wall paint and solvent based spray paints
Making of video
It doesn’t happen every day that a professional documentarist makes a video of you working on a mural.
Grazie mille Ferdinando.
Details
About the project
I am very proud of this mural as it’s my first commission for a building’s facade.
am also proud of the fact that was because of my sketches and concept that the musuem won the grant that allowed various improvements for the center, including the mural.
A few words about the place:
Lesina is a small town on the South-East cost of Italy, its pretty alleys and facades don’t face directly the Adriatic sea though, but the green waters of Lesina’s lagoon, a special and really delicate echosystem of freshwaters surrounded by a little forest thriving with wildlife.
The shallow lagoon hosts birds and fishes, but the queen of the green waters is the eel.
The surface for the mural is the facade of the local museum of the lagoon, called “Centro Visite”, regularly visited by schools. At the time of my visit it contained an aquarium with various species from the lagoons, and further sections were dedicated to biology, wildlife and to the history of the lagoon, to the fishermen, their practices and the life in the fisher settlements near the lake.
The design:
When I was asked to present a sketch in order to apply for a grant I was given total artistic freedom, but I felt compelled to draw inspiration from the local nature. I took some time to study in depth the biology of the area, flora and fauna. I collected images of my favorite birds and plants in a document, I then started sketching them in a composition that would have movement and dynamism to break the stiff monolithic feeling given by the facade.
My aim was to use composition and colours to make the freshwater of the lagoon meet the saltwater of the sea. In this meeting point different animal and plant species meet and interact.
The protagonists of the scene are a red heron and a pink flamingo, mirrored and embracing the building’s main entrance. But many other species of land and water animals are represented, including the eel, one of the most important animals for the lagoon and the fishermen. From the sandy shores the landscape turns into a low and wild forest were land animals find shelter.
Production and challenges:
Production of the mural took approximately 10 days, and it hasn’t been devoid of challenges: starting with a proper seaside storm that hit the town on the first day, followed by the lack of a tall enough scaffolding until the fourth day and discovering upon my arrival that what from the photos looked like a concrete wall was in fact marble deeply carved in a grooved texture, which forced me to rethink totally the way I was going to approach the wall and the materials to use.
The design:
When I was asked to present a sketch in order to apply for a grant I was given total artistic freedom, but I felt compelled to draw inspiration from the local nature. I took some time to study in depth the biology of the area, flora and fauna. I collected images of my favorite birds and plants in a document, I then started sketching them in a composition that would have movement and dynamism to break the stiff monolithic feeling given by the facade.
My aim was to use composition and colours to make the freshwater of the lagoon meet the saltwater of the sea. In this meeting point different animal and plant species meet and interact.
The protagonists of the scene are a red heron and a pink flamingo, mirrored and embracing the building’s main entrance. But many other species of land and water animals are represented, including the eel, one of the most important animals for the lagoon and the fishermen. From the sandy shores the landscape turns into a low and wild forest were land animals find shelter.
Production and challenges:
Production of the mural took approximately 10 days, and it hasn’t been devoid of challenges: starting with a proper seaside storm that hit the town on the first day, followed by the lack of a tall enough scaffolding until the fourth day and discovering upon my arrival that what from the photos looked like a concrete wall was in fact marble deeply carved in a grooved texture, which forced me to rethink totally the way I was going to approach the wall and the materials to use.
The design:
When I was asked to present a sketch in order to apply for a grant I was given total artistic freedom, but I felt compelled to draw inspiration from the local nature. I took some time to study in depth the biology of the area, flora and fauna. I collected images of my favorite birds and plants in a document, I then started sketching them in a composition that would have movement and dynamism to break the stiff monolithic feeling given by the facade.
My aim was to use composition and colours to make the freshwater of the lagoon meet the saltwater of the sea. In this meeting point different animal and plant species meet and interact.
The protagonists of the scene are a red heron and a pink flamingo, mirrored and embracing the building’s main entrance. But many other species of land and water animals are represented, including the eel, one of the most important animals for the lagoon and the fishermen. From the sandy shores the landscape turns into a low and wild forest were land animals find shelter.
Production and challenges:
Production of the mural took approximately 10 days, and it hasn’t been devoid of challenges: starting with a proper seaside storm that hit the town on the first day, followed by the lack of a tall enough scaffolding until the fourth day and discovering upon my arrival that what from the photos looked like a concrete wall was in fact marble deeply carved in a grooved texture, which forced me to rethink totally the way I was going to approach the wall and the materials to use.
I would lie if I said it wasn’t tough, but it was also a great learning experience in many ways. And besides these issues the painting went smoothly, and was really enjoyable and fun – I love painting animals and organic compositions with elements from nature. The locals have been really sweet keeping me company and taking good care of me, hosting me and lending me a bike that allowed me to ride til the nearest cafe for an espresso break every now and then.
What was frustration for not finding the tools and materials I needed (and had asked for) from the beginning, turned into understanding. I understood what it means to live a different and slower lifestyle, typical of Southern Italy. And maybe I learned to take it easier as well sometimes.
I definitely left a bit of my heart in the town of Lesina and, although it’s a long drive from my parent’s hometown in Italy, I already went back a couple of times to say hi to my mural and some of the sweet people I met when I was working there.
Work in progress
Big thanks to Ferdinando and Giacomo from Centro Visite for involving and trusting me, to the Maselli family for being the best hosts I could wish for, and to Miriam and Debora for the fun and welcoming company.