Mario Ferrante exhibition in Berlin

Last Saturday in Berlin people from South America, Italy and, no need to say, Germany had their meeting point in Galerie Georgia in Bleibtreustrasse, one of the nicest and coziest spot in Charlottenburg, amidst the prominent art galleries of West Berlin.

Occasion was the opening of a personal exhibit of Mario Ferrante named ‘Anime e dintorni’ (Souls and surroundings). One of the leading Italian artists, Ferrante finds now his place in the german ‘Hauptstadt’, Europe’s most exciting city for artists. Young ones flash there, knowing they will find a friendly and easy- living athmosphere, more than elsewhere.

Mario Ferrante is not a young artist looking for space: in his country, Italy, he’s among the most requested artists. His exhibits take place in major cities and public istitutions ask him to create for them, as is the case, for instance, for the new Vatican Embassy in Burkina Faso.

Now also a teacher, his laboratory has become open spaces for young artists ho want to learn from him, Mario Ferrante is based in Rome and Benevento.

Maestro Ferrante’s first german step was last year, with a successful exhibit in the Brazilian Embassy, and with a reason: born in Rome, when he was only 4 his family moved to Brazil, where he stayed for 9 years; that country has rooted so deep within his soul that has stayed as a constant source of inspiration, (no need to say that he comes back as often as possible in his south-american ‘second homeland’).

Hence come the famous ‘Bahianas’ (women of Bahia), ‘Macumbere’ (sorceresses), or ‘Garotas’ (Girls), but in this Berlin exhibit we have seen a different face of his art: it was focused mainly on city life scenes caught in the act and with strongly evidence of coulours
. Ferrante’s art can give us back the real soul (and surroundings!) of his images, he is able both to capture the spirit of metropolitan life or to keep the intimacy of a look, of a situation, of a city scene, freezed on canvas but lively as a photogram of a movie
. It is not a case that in 2002 he created a cycle of paintings named ‘Moving people’.

Georgia Berlin Galerie

Annilie Hillmer, Galerie Georgia’s leader, was the first in Berlin to suddenly realize the potentialities in Ferrante’s art, and she already sponsored his exhibit in the Brazilian Embassy. Georgia Galerie is mainly focused on Georgian artitst, just as its name says, but hosts often artists from different countries. Skilled Annilie Hillmer conducts the gallery with love for art, competence, experience and, first of all, hard work, specially in this time when money seems to be shorten for everything and it’s hard for people to spend on art.

“Anime e dintorni” will be opened until November 10th.

Georgia Berlin Galerie, Bleibtreustrasse 17 10623 Berlin.

Mario Ferrante

Maestro Ferrante, you call yourself ‘a white man with a black heart’, as your Italian origin and the many years you’ve spent in Brazil in your formative years confirm

. What did you impressed in a city so far from your ‘two worlds’ as Berlin is?

As I always say, I love Berlin so intensly as I love Rio! But for opposite reasons: while Rio is chaotic, a place where life can “explode” all in a sudden with its many colours, Berlin is elegant, still, ordered, but still charming and rich in intensity, a real challenge to discover its soul.

In your works there are themes which come constantly, like portaits of young Brazilian boys or the famous ‘Bahianas’ (women from Bahia)
. Do you think that also here in Berlin you will find subjects which can become a constant source of inspiration for you?

Yes, definitely. This place is rich with my ‘metropolitan angels’. You see, ‘Angel’ means ‘announcer’, and these young people who bring colours in our lives with their dresses, piercings and tattooes, are messengers of contemporary life! They shine with the sign of the new metropolitan tribality.

When the discussion comes to Berlin, one of the most common argument is ho this city is open minded specially towards arts, and young artists can easily find their space. You are now at your second personal exhibit here, and what do you think about it?

I would say yes. Of course on different levels, and so also the artist must rule his aspirations. It is so evident for everyone how art is in everyday’s life here, pulsing and always new. This is in the air, you can almost breath it! As an experience it is energy-giving and gives a lot of new input to every artist.

Anyway, here in Berlin, artists come from all over the world. Which is your suggestion to the young ones for making the best in the world of art?

I would tell them to stay here for some time, to see and taste the rhythm, apparently quiet and still, of the city, to penetrate the foggy thick athmosphere, and when they are really ‘into’ it, to speak with local artists and confront themselves.

Your exhibit in Berlin opened on October 8, and that very same day in Rome another of your personal opened. Do you see a connection between the two cities? What will the roman exhibit be about?

I think there is for sure a connection, even if it’s deeply hidden
. Anyway I can’t deny that the line which divides them is invisible but deeply rooted, and puts in evidence their respective value, and how they both are one of a kind.

Kulturkompasset is an international web site but it’s based in Norway. Have you never visited the Nordic Countries? Do you believe that they could be a source of inspiration for your creativity?

To visit Scandinavia has always been one of my dreams. The special light, the mysterious landscape… I see the cities there as the land of fairy tales. I could find there the traces of the Nordic mythology, and that would be a great source of inspiration for me.

Then, ‘Arrivederci’ to the North, hopefully in Oslo!