Almost every television or radio commercial from pharmaceutical companies now dwells on malaria drugs. Sometimes you become confused which drugs will best treat malaria fever. The NGO’S on their part spend enormous money providing mosquito nets, distribut

I started working for the Italian Foreign Ministry in 1978. I have been posted all around the world: Africa, Europe, South America  and Asia. I was born in Sicily, but now I live in Rome with my family. I am married with two children, a son and a daughter, who are grown ups now. In […]

I started working for the Italian Foreign Ministry in 1978. I have been posted all around the world: Africa, Europe, South America  and Asia.

I was born in Sicily, but now I live in Rome with my family. I am married with two children, a son and a daughter, who are grown ups now. In my free time, I like listening to music a lot, especially French and Brazilian songwriters.

How did you start art and what does it mean to you?

I studied Art at secondary school in Italy and since then I have been interested in Art. Through Art I can express that part of myself that is not easy to express in words.

How is art relevant to your diplomatic career and how are you able to combine both?

Working in the diplomatic field has given me the chance to see different places and meet different people; this has enriched me as a person and consequently, as an artist, too. I don’t paint everyday – sometimes I’m too tired or I’m not in the right  mood, but some days, I start painting at 5 in the evening and I can go on till late at night, without being conscious of the passing of time. Usually, though, I paint mainly at weekends.

Asides painting what other forms of art do you indulge in?

I do a lot of clay work especially modelling.

How have your various postings influenced your art?

Everywhere I have worked and lived for some time, I have tried to get to know the country and the local culture and traditions, but above all, I have always been attracted by sceneries and nature.

Your profile on the back of the invitation states that, you have found new nourishment for your painting…. Could you explain what that means?

Here in Nigeria, at weekends, I often go trekking around Abuja with friends – I find these places really charming and interesting both for their colours and their shapes, very different from what you can have in Europe.

Looking at your works, you seem to paint only flowers. Are they what best represents the beauty of nature to you; considering the fact that you could also do landscapes and other scenes?

Actually, flowers are the things I like the best. I find them attractive and intriguing at the same time. However, as you can see from the paintings at the exhibition, I have worked on different subjects, too.  I think watercolour painting gives you great freedom and the possibility to work in different and innovative ways and it is still giving me strong and very pleasant sensations.