Sogno

Terracotta self-portrait, modified animal mask, laurel crown renewed once a year


Result of a recent work on the terracotta self-portrait clay exercise from the first year of sculpture course, by the modified carnival mask crowned with laurel lowered on the face, the work describes with delicate irony by the manner of classic allegorical portraits, the always somewhat dreamy, naive aura that generally envelops the academic student of visual arts, with its set of expectations, hopes and more often illusions. Laurel crown that once a year (usually in late spring, when plants reached seasonal growth peak, need tidying up) is renewed. So, the smell that for some time it continues to emanate and spreads through the environment also increase that aura of enchantment that only in dreams takes on convincing semblance of truth.

Sogno, not by chance is a quote from the same name short story in Goffredo Parise's Sillabari, thus a pretext for a general reminder of that carefree, happy life that, as the author writes, soon fades away, except to remain imprinted in the matter of a few objects, often insignificant but dear (an old fountain pen kept in a drawer like a sculpture from educational years), which preserve and at every glance renew the memory of the only truly happy time, in which regardless of the the world around happenings (wars, unforeseen natural events or difficulties of any kind) one was truly alive.
And this would not be possible without that freshness of gaze, which if on the one hand exposes to deception, on the other hand (in every field) is the seed of creativity so remembering it, trying never to lose it at all, for anyone, but even more for an artist, is essential.

Then perhaps Sogno, is also a reminder. Something that by renewing itself once a year brings attention back to the essential.