Nel blu dipinto di blu

Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più. (I think that a dream like that will never return.)
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu; (I painted my hands and my face blue,)
poi d’improvviso venivo dal vento rapito, (suddenly I was taken by the wind)
e incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito. (and I started to fly in the infinite sky.)

Franco Migliacci & Domenico Modugno, 1958

Song inspired by Marc Chagall´s paintings, probably the most famous Italian song world wide, starts with this hypnagogic vision of man/painter in love, overwhelmed by the blue of the sky, that he paints his face and hands in (sky) blue, to be taken into the arms of the sky/lover, feeling infinite happiness/love. Such powerful lyrics, describing a love madness are hardly found in contemporary music, where common description for love is “put it where it does(n´t) belong” is seen as romantic. To me, it is a state in a painting process, when I realize that painting in front of me is becoming much bigger than initially planned, and I feel urge to become a part of that overgrowing painting. Just like falling in love. And what is flying but the indefinite falling.

Painting Nel blu di pinto di blu is my token of gratitude to Giorgio “Papa” Micoli and Arci Chieti for their longtime support and friendship. Something that they can look upon next year, and say “damn, that crazy vanffaculo is in Japan right now, I am so happy for him.” I have made composition for four panels polyptych in tradition of ukiyo-e, so each panel can be seen as stand alone painting. Each panel is dedicated to one office in Arci Abrzzo, of recognized long term activists. Panel no. 1 “Volare” featuring Morgot (Fujiko) Mine is for Arci Fossacesia, no. 2 “Cantare” featuring Lupin the III for Arci Abruzzo/Vasto, no. 3 “Fumare (Tubo)” featuring Daisuke Jigen for Arci Cheti (for they are the gunslingers)  and no. 4 “Bere” featuring Goemon Ishikawa XIII to Papa. As you might noticed I have added two additional lyrics to refrain of Nel blu dipinto di blu, fumare (to smoke ) and bere (to drink) most common exercises connected to singing and flying in Italian culture, and any other culture that respects food and celebration of life.

Lupin III – Leggenda della Grande Onda or The Great Wave of Torino di Sangro, Italy
Lupin III – Leggenda della Grande Onda or The Great Wave of Torino di Sangro, Italy

Nel bludipinto di blu is continuation of the story started 2 months ago with Lupin III – Leggenda della Grande Onda or The Great Wave of Torino di Sangro. I have promised to captain of Carabinieri station in Torino di Sangro that I would come and paint insignia of Carabinieri in yellow, orange and gold on the wall across the entrance. And that was the plan, to take one day leave from Vasto and revisit Torino di Sangro, but holly vanffaculo didn´t allow it so. So I am one piece short to the finished story. Hopefully it will happen in near future.

In Lupin III – Leggenda della Grande Onda, Jigen and Goemon appears to be checking the Great Wave that hides a block of golden bars, protected by Carabinieri. As twist in the story, it is that golden insignia of Carabinieri they are after. So Nel blu dipinto di blu shows Lupin crew getting away with insignia in Carabinier car, Fiat 500, another Italian legend.

As far I am concerned my Italian Lupin the III story is told and I am looking forward to new upcoming Lupin the III anime series that is starting in October 2015, and it is happening in Italy/San Marino 🙂

Related post: Youth Centres and youth inclusion: creativity and artistic expression in Vasto, Italy.

Technique: acrylic on canvas

Size: 4 panels polyptych 200 x 200 cm
(78.74 x 78.74 inch);
each panel 100 x 100 cm
(39.37 x 39.37 inch)

Year: September 2015

Availability: In Collection of Giorgio Micoli and Arci (Chieti, Vasto and Fossacesia)


Dōjinshi

Dōjinshi is very cool practice in manga world. It means self-published and it´s largely based of fan-art works of recognized creators’ works. It is like Pop Art practice but more freely spread and more concerned with storytelling and that is a part that actually interests me. Unlike Pop Art´s way of exploitation of the popular image, I rather want to tell a story through the used popular character.