Finish years: The Sphinx

Acrylic, thumbnails, the computer and the appearance of the Sphinx...



We can consider, as a last period of his history as an artist, the years from 2004 to his death in April 2008. A period of time during which the burden of age began to take its toll. In bad weather the outputs became increasingly rare and sporadic. He spent his days at home, where he had placed a tripod, focusing acrylic on canvas. A painting in some ways tired, sometimes using dark colors and with little enthusiasm. Work loads of brown, as if they were a sign of impending senility, which like a sword of Damocles hanging over his thoughts. Reflections, these, inherent in every man, when the forces are partly missing and you have the knowledge that the days ahead will be more uncertain and less and less. In those winters, however, destined most of his energies to what he called "Stamps", ie the thumbnails. Set to work, equipped with a lens, to transform small pieces of cardboard in illuminated masterpieces. Small watercolors that has all the original beauty of the great paintings that he had done. A difficult job and an extreme patience, made even more difficult by a view is not perfect, due to their advanced age, truly exceptional: its "Stamps" can be regarded as an admirable tribute to the art.
It happened that a Christmas received as a gift from the children, a computer. Gift gladly accepted, despite having no idea about how the infernal machine, but with a clear idea about its usage and its applications. A modern instrument in the service of art. Enthused. Bought several courses that erudirono on the subject, and many evenings and nights Carpi part of the secrets of the diabolical machine. He then began to experiment. Scannerizzò, he modified some of his paintings, created new drawings and then printed them. Not bad for a man of his generation with an elementary culture. Unfortunately, all that study is lost. We are saved only three works, three small watercolor prints, perhaps correct or perhaps identical to the original. The reason for the loss of all this was about three months before his death, when the disease began. I format the computer, erasing all data on it. He claimed that it was a mistake, and adduced as an excuse the alleged little practicality with your computer.
I wonder if he went just like that, or if you have deleted all the files on purpose. A question corroborated by a drawing and a written eloquently enigmatic, a vision appeared at that time on the wall, just above the computer monitor. Carried out with a simple graphite pencil, the inscription on the apex quotes: "The Sphinx", and just below this element is represented as seen from above and stylized. The lower part of this object, in shape of a triangle, rests on the tip of a pyramid, which is partly hidden by another pyramid, placed in the foreground. Taking into account the second hypothesis, namely that of his will have removed all the files, the question arises: to what end and for what purpose, remove months of study? It is known that the Egyptian civilization was the task of the sphinx to stand guard over the holy places. Its name means "living statue" and is identified with the rising sun, as every morning, witnessing the rising of this star. Symbolically, it is a constant reminder of his resurrection, but over the centuries has taken on the meaning of enigma. Woodns left us again a little arcane. An encrypted message, dictated perhaps by his love for the occult. Another little passion, which together astronomy and science fiction, he cultivated throughout his life. Among the favorite books, are books by Isaac Asimov, L. Ron Hubbard and Giuliano Kremmerz, as well as various astronomy books.
For recreation instead read passionately Comics superhero, those of Marvel. After this digression, let us consider the last good seasons. All remained unchanged, the same desire to get out and outputs frequent, until the last spring and summer, that of 2007. When, as pointed out by his girlfriend Graziella, were noticed in him a certain listlessness and fatigue. What that his art can confirm. Date back to that period a large number of unfinished works. Pictures that started and then never finished on site, and that did not go back anymore, not even in his office. Efforts, these, we have received so, as the expression of a man really tired, or maybe just aware of the impending doom. Also confirmed by his later works, such as the self-senile and the lone fisherman, lost in the light of dawn. (See the image of the fisherman on the home page)

Self-portrait (old age)

 

 

 




A painting 

in some ways tired, sometimes using dark colors, work loads of brown and ocher ... as if they were a sign of impending senility, and as a Damocles sword hanging from his thoughts.

Heterogeneous elements

He spent most of his days at home ... dedicating acrylic on canvas.

Stamps


In those winters ... strove to transform small pieces of cardboard in illuminated masterpieces.

Entertainment pictorial


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