“Baby bugia” by Beatrice Brandini

Pinocchio by Venturino Venturi 1958 (private collection)

I want to pay tribute to a great artist, painter and sculptor, and that not everyone knows who deserved to skill and heart for a place in the Olympus of the most famous artists in the world: Venturino Venturi.

Among the things that made the most representative should be mentioned and promoted the construction of the square within the Park of Collodi, where, with magnificent mosaics, pays tribute to Pinocchio, perhaps the most famous and successful tale in the world, from Carlo Lorenzini said Collodi (pseudonym, in honor to the country where he spent his childhood). Carlo Collodi had the ability to write children’s stories who have no time and use metaphors that are some real lessons for children and adults (“Toyland” as a lure to the easy things; “lies” as temptation and wrong reaction; “the cat and the fox” personification of false friendships; “the cricket and the fairy” trusted advisors and never heard as happens to those who are parent…).

    

View of the Pinocchio Park in Collodi                                                   Pinocchio on the grass

    

The four bunnies with the coffin and Policeman both of Carlo Consagra within the Park of Pinocchio

The big shark by Marco Zanuso

This park is visited especially with children because it is a truly magical place, is located in Collodi, near Pescia in the province of Pistoia. It is not an amusement park but is designed as theme park, “educational”, where you have the feeling of living in a fairy tale retrace a path punctuated between art and nature. Here great artists have created magnificent works, such as Emilio Greco, Pietro Consagra and, indeed, Venturino Venturi.

Venturino Venturi was born in 1918 in Loro Ciuffenna, near Arezzo, and his father a skilled stonemason was forced to flee from Italy with their children to protect them from the war. It is said that to teach them to read brought with him a few books, among them The Divine Comedy and the Adventures of Pinocchio …..

Pinocchio wire, 1953

A lonely childhood, that of Venturino, and full of sacrifices, such as the one that still (unfortunately) far too many children. The most important thing, that all the world should be doing and defend, is to give the right to education and to live their childhood for every child. Without this right you only create a future of dryness, ” nothing good seeds , nothing good harvest …. “

Angel 1976 – private collection

Back in Italy, will attend the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, in 1947, will move to Milan where he will come into contact with importante artist as Lucio Fontana.

From here on in years will be marked by awards and accolades, the execution of public works, experiments with various techniques and materials, including the realization of important sculptures.

The square in the park of Pinocchio with Venturino Venturi’s mosaics ( three details )

In 1953 participates in the international competition for a Monument to Pinocchio held by the Carlo Collodi National Foundation. Venturino presents the project for a small mosaic square. Wins the prize ex aequo with Emilio Greco. From 1954 to 1956 will work continuously to the realization of its square, even with dramatic consequences, such as severe depression from which he shall go no altogether.

Thank Archives and museum dedicated to him in Loro Ciuffenna, which was held in the house atelier of the artist, you can learn more about his work. Many things of Venturino are found in the most important museums in the world such as the Uffizi, the Pitti Palace , Vatican Museums, which have dedicated an entire room, the MNHA of Luxembourg. As well as in many important private collections.

Maternity bronze, MAON Art Museum of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

Venturino Venturi was a great experimenter of forms and signs, which started as a stonemason, in the footsteps of his father, has always felt the stone as a raw material rich in soul. Venturino was strong and essential, but also extremely pure .

His art was characterized by variety of techniques and expression forms, from sculpture to graphic design, from painting to mosaics, from ceramics to paper mache. As well as his poetry that is both lyrical and dramatic. The signs, the vortices that characterize the Venturino’s paper, are the same that affect the chisel on the stone or the fingers knead into wet cement.

Monotype oil on paper, 1954 Archive Venturino Venturi

Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti, a modern patron, chose him in 1961 as an artist to be exhibited at the Institute of History at the Pisa University. With his usual foresight critical, Ragghianti  took the originality and spontaneity of this great artist.

Venturino Venturi at work

Thanks Venturino Venturi, your works are a sign that will remain eternal, no less important than those of Hartung, Crippa or Fontana, an inspiration to us.

Photo by Tim Walker in 2012

Good life to all!

Beatrice