Calabria, 40th anniversary of Diamante murals celebrated with four new works

It has been since 1981 that the historic center of Diamante (Cosenza) has continued to be enriched with street art works: that year, in fact, the painter Nani Razetti thought of calling over 80 artists from all over the world to Calabria to fresco the entire seaside village. It was an operation that changed the face of Diamante: and this year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first “Operation Murales” with four new interventions.

After a June during which art expressed itself in different forms, between the birth of new urban masterpieces (the murals by UNO and Riccardo Buonafede) and the restoration of old murals that were disappearing (Kodra and Eva Krump), including exhibitions, meetings and themed conferences, Diamante Murales 40 returns in August continuing its work of preservation and enhancement of the village’s impressive artistic heritage, Diamante’s pride. Starting August 8, therefore, four new interventions will be made by as many internationally renowned street artists. From Naples comes Jorit, with the hyper-realism of his faces in the foreground and the vivid and precise, almost photographic, details of his portraits. From Padua, Tony Gallo with his dreamy, anthropomorphic subjects that characterize his dreamy, multifaceted style. The third guest is Kraser, a Madrilenian who lives in Chicago, the cradle of graffiti-writing: he will bring to Diamante his site-specific lettering and his bright contrasts of colors. Finally, a well-known figure of female urban art, recognizable by a typical realism mixed with abstract elements: from Milan, SteReal will intervene with one of her murals in which she depicts the strength of being a woman against discrimination.

A carefully studied line-up, chosen and desired for Diamante Murales 40, a kermesse that will also be an exercise in style, an experimental laboratory aimed at the future of urban art. The intent, common to the triple artistic direction of the festival, is to transcend the present in order to break down all kinds of boundaries, both geographical and above all mental.

Under the patronage of the Municipality of Diamante, which promotes the event in collaboration with the Haz Art Cultural Association and the Italian Chili Pepper Academy, sponsored by Intesa Sanpaolo and Ecoross, Diamante Murals 40 finds added value in an artistic direction coordinated by three strong personalities. Three artists who are themselves artistic directors of as many urban art festivals: Antonino Perrotta (OSA), Giacomo Marinaro (Gulìa Urbana) and Riccardo Buonafede (Manufactory Project). A six-handed artistic direction that for the first time collaborates in the realization of a single event, exceptionally emphasizing the need to create synergies and further stimulate a growing sector such as urban art. “Art,” stresses the artistic direction, “is born from the ideas but above all from the hearts of women and men who feel the need to express themselves and communicate their truths. The different backgrounds and peculiarities of each of the projects collaborating on a unique event such as Diamante Murales 40 cannot but be essential to what is the ultimate goal of these realities: to educate and raise awareness of beauty, to provide new critical and reflective insights for the generations that live and will live in these places.”

Among the side initiatives, visitable until Aug. 15 at the DAC Museum is La Grande Pittura del Novecento Italiano, an exhibition in memory of Nani Razetti that offers a look at important and famous artists of the Italian twentieth century, while at the Torre del Semaforo, visitable until Aug. 31, is Angelo Aligia’s exhibition that takes up the installation Panem, first created in Matera Capitale della Cultura 2019, raising awareness of issues such as the waste of food that could feed so many people in need and the drama of migrants. Finally, from August 16 to 31, Treccani will organize an exhibition of copies of contemporary art paintings.

The 40th anniversary thus celebrates a tradition typical of the area and inherent in the culture of the place, begun by Razetti and continued over the years by OSA - Operazione Street Art (the urban art festival born in 2017 that has brought to fruition a historical-artistic process, making the city of Diamante one of the most painted villages in Italy, with its more than 330 murals present in its historic center and beyond). The murals, stressed Mayor Ernesto Magorn, “are a heritage of our community, the region and the whole country, as I had occasion to tell Minister Dario Franceschini, who was invited to Diamante to be present at the 40th anniversary initiatives.”

Image: Diamond, Solo and Diamond mural (2018)

Calabria, 40th anniversary of Diamante murals celebrated with four new works

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.