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"Sighendi" (Continuing, Going On)
Urban art project
“Sighendi” is a collection of twenty-one portraits on 30x30 cm ceramic tiles. They depict people whose contribution to the artistic scene and public participation has shaped the community of San Sperate ever since 1968.
The project is a non-exhaustive representation of the different realities belonging to this community, and it does not aim to celebrate the singular personalities who helped to give prestige to San Sperate; on the contrary, it simply attempts to retell the journey that led us from the ‘60s to the present day.
There are plenty of ways to preserve memory. I have chosen to do it by showing the faces of those who had the merit to link the knowledge and experience, both theirs and of others, to our community by representing associations or collective manifestations following the path of “Paese Museo”.
It therefore aims to show a storyline which brings us from the past, throught the present, to the future, while forming and informing the new generation.
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Until the ‘50s the town of San Sperate used to have two districts surrounding the two churches from which they took their names: Santa Lucia and San Giovanni (Saint Lucy and Saint John).
My urban art project ”Sighendi” starts from the church of Santa Lucia with the portrait of Pinuccio Sciola, proceeds along the historical main streets of the town, and ends in San Giovanni, ideally linking the two poles of the old community.
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A special “thank you” goes to the walls owners and to Ninni Schirru for his precious willingness to help.
Thanks to "Antas Teatro" for their logistical support and the shared project planning.
Personal files
1. Pinuccio Sciola
(photo by Attila Kleb)
Giuseppe Sciola, better known as Pinuccio (San Sperate 15 March 1942 – Cagliari 13 May 2016). Italian sculptor. Founding father of the wall painting movement in Sardinia and in San Sperate, his hometown. Worldwide known for his work on sound sculptures, which can be found in several cities around the world.
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2. Cenzo Porcu
(photo by Attila Kleb)
Cenzo was part of the original group of the San Sperate movement. Actor and writer, he was very fond of archive research, finding many historical records on the community for whom he has made efforts even in public office.
He wrote the book “Gli anni della calce” (“The years of lime”) in which he describes, from an internal and special point of view, what happened during the decade which saw the birth of the Paese Museo.
3. Anselmo Spiga
(photo by Hele Grussu )
Actor and playwright, he was one of the founders of "Antas Teatro".
He is mostly known for "S'Unda Manna" dedicated to the terrible and tragic flood that during the night between the 20th and 21st october 1892 killed 69 people in San Sperate (a quarter of the popolation of the town at that time).
The municipal library of San Sperate is named after him, and the same can be said for the annual literary award organized by "Libera la Farfalla" and Antas Teatro.
4. Ida Pillittu
((photo by Giampaolo Mameli)
Outstanding public and cultural figure, as well as formidable stage actress using the Sardinian language.
Co-founder of the historical theater company "La Maschera" in which she played the most important female roles. The core group of "La Maschera" is actually the first San Sperate cultural movement which anticipates muralism and "Paese Museo".
Excellent cook, in San Sperate she is known for her "panadas" and her "malloreddus".
5. Mario Fulghesu
(photo by Alberto Mossa)
Co-founder of the theater company "La Maschera" in which he always played as the protagonist, being the artistic director.
He was part of the original group of the San Sperate movement and was brought to trial by the City Council alongside Pinuccio Sciola and Nino Landis for having installed a plough (as a symbol) in a public place.
The core group of "La Maschera" is actually the first San Sperate cultural movement which anticipates the muralism and "Paese Museo". He got several roles as character actor in national films.
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6. Foiso Fois
(photo by Nanni Pes)
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Foiso Fois (Iglesias, 28 December 1916 – Cagliari, 21 February 1984) was an Italian painter, art critic and essayist.
The Liceo Artistico (Art School) of Cagliari is named after him.
Very influential, he always made his presence felt as well as giving his support to the"Paese Museo" movement.
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https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foiso_Fois
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7. Franco Gaviano
(photo by )
Leader and soul of the group "Teatro Gestuale" (“Mimic Theater”), he anticipates, long ago, theatrical languages which are innovatives and unusual. Always interested in the culture all round, he was fascinated mostly from the avant-gardes.
After the group split he got involved in the music field, another one of his interests, and after some experiences he founded the historical group "Honeymoon Flowers", in which he sings and plays the guitar.
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8. Pablo Volta
(photo by Attila Kleb)
Pablo Volta (Buenos Aires, 3 January 1926[1] – Cagliari, 28 July 2011) was an Italian photographer. In 1954 he made his first visit to Sardinia, realizing photos for the essay '"Inchiesta su Orgosolo" (“Inquiry on Orgosolo”) by Franco Cagnetta. In 1957 he photographed the Carnevale in Mamoiada.
In 1987, his love for Sardinia made him move to the "Paese Museo" of San Sperate, which he chooses as his new homeland until the end.
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9. Nino Landis
(photo by Alberto Mossa)
Indipendent actor and poet, he played with several companies starting from "La Maschera".
He prefers the Sardinian languages, which he masters with expertise, poetry and irony.
Nino was part of the original group of the San Sperate movement, in which he has a leading and coordinating role, and he is still the historical memory of the group.
He was brought to trial by the City Council alongside Pinuccio Sciola and Mario Fulghesu for having installed a plough (as a symbol) in a public place.
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10. Angelo Pilloni
(photo by Attila Kleb)
Angelo was part of the original group of the muralist movement in Sardinia.
His characteristic pictorial manner, visible in his watercolors, oil and mural paintings, gave rise to a line of works inspired by his style.
The portrait of everyday life scenes, in little towns or in the countryside or in festivals from the 19th century, becomes his distinctive feature.
Angelo worked several times with Pinuccio Sciola.
His mural paintings can be found in several walls in Sardinia and across Europe.
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11. Raffaele Muscas
(photo by Daniele Spiga)
He was a role model, in San Sperate, for his character full of life and for his ironic and irriverent personality.
Raffaele was a versatile artist who started painting using different techniques, and his innate curiosity brought him to try sculpture using river stones, concrete, even terracotta. But his originality and unique interpretation of the different textures are shown in his mural paintings even more than in other techniques.
He was part of the group "Antas Teatro".
12. Mariano Corda
(photo by Alberto Mossa)
Co-founder of "NoArte-Paese Museo", from which he parted ways just at the end.
His art for the theater group "Fueddu e Gestu" is marked by his life experience , as well as his jobs, which are shaped by his passion for the scenography.
He worked with several materials, but his favorites are still old recycled elements made in iron, which he re-interprets and assembles in new poetic interpretations.
Remarcable his amazing show of ancestral costumes "Semjai", in which he got hundreds of kids and adults involved .
13. Paolo Lusci
(photo by Matteo Mossa)
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Co-founder of "NoArte-Paese Museo", from which he parted ways only in recent years, after having covered the role of president for a long time.
Paolo has been the president of the Giuseppe Dessì Foundation too, which he managed to put on a new level of national interest. He’s part of the group Turismo Sostenibile (“Sustainable Tourism”) which gives the "La pesca d'oro" award, an annual prize for the ones who bring special prestige to San Sperate thanks to their work .
He organizes several conventions and literary events, offering his experience and his big cultural network to the whole community.
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14. Giacomo Casti
(photo by Dietrich Steinmetz )
Anthropologist, novelist, actor-playwright and director...in short a cultural operator and organizer all round.
Giacomo is part of several events thanks to his various passions, starting from the music all the way to literature, which bring him to the stage with different roles.
He is part of "Antas Teatro" and "Chourmo" ed è tra gli organizzatori e frontman del festival "Cuncambias" di San Sperate e di "Marina cafè noir" di Cagliari.
Outstanding storyteller, Giacomo is often chosen to read in literary conventions or on theater stages.
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15. Giulio Landis
(photo by Alberto Mossa)
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Giulio had his artistic growth in the group "La Maschera" and after a workshop with "Teatro Nucleo" in San Sperate he developed "Antas Teatro".
He still is one of the managers of the company and alongside Stefano Farris and Raimonda Mercurio, represents the core group which attracts several artists .
His role on the stage ranges from poetic and dramas until exhibitions on stilts.
Alongside Giacomo Casti he is the deus ex machina of the organization of the pop culture festival "Cuncambias".
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16. Daniele Spiga
(photo by Attila Kleb)
He is part of "NoArte" and the association "SanSperarte".
"SanSperarte" was born to tell the story of Paese Museo and for this purpose the project "Sentire a colori" (“Feel in colour”); it’s about making audio guides available to illustrate, by anecdotes, a big part of the mural heritage of San Sperate.
Thanks to the multi-annual collaboration with the Art Biennale Foundation of Cerveira in Portugal, he took care of the organization of a part of the artworks of the Foundation itself in San Sperate.
Daniele took care of the publication of the illustrated book "Da quassù" (“From up here”) about San Sperate.
17. Manuela Serra
(photo by Attila Kleb)
She is part of "NoArte" and the association "SanSperarte".
"SanSperarte" was born to tell the story of Paese Museo and for this purpose the project "Sentire a colori" (“Feel in color”); it’s about making audio guides available to illustrate, by anecdotes, a big part of the mural heritage of San Sperate.
Thanks to the multi-annual collaboration with the Art Biennale Foundation of Cerveira in Portugal, he took care of the organization of a part of the artworks of the Foundation itself in San Sperate.
Manuela took care of the publication of the illustrated book "Da quassù" (“From up here”) about San Sperate.
18. Maria Sciola
(photo by Maria Jole Serreli)
She is the youngest daughter of Pinuccio Sciola and holds the position of head of the Foundation named after her father and alongside her brother Tomaso and her sister Chiara she preserves and enhances the artwork of the San Sperate maestro.
This is the reason why she is often called to represent the father in conventions and events in Italy and abroad.
As Foundation, once a year, she organizes a three-day event named "Sant'Arte", to grant a wish expressed by Pinuccio Sciola.
The Giardino Sonoro (Sound Garden) which she manages represents one of the key points who catalyzes interests in the community of San Sperate.
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19. Stefano Farris
(photo by Alberto Mossa)
He is one of the heads of "Antas Teatro" and alongside Giulio Landis and Raimonda Mercurio represents the core group which attracts several artists .
His role on the stage ranges from poetic and dramas until playing the clown and kids games, and of course street theater on stilts.
Stefano has a key role in the organization of the pop culture festival “Cuncambias". He also directed and staged several theater plays.
20. Raimonda Mercurio
(photo by Alberto Mossa)
She is one of the heads of "Antas Teatro" and alongside Giulio Landis and Stefano Farris represents the core group which attracts several artists .
Her role on the stage ranges from poetic and dramas until playing the clown and kids games, and of course street theater on stilts.
Raimonda has a key role in the organization of the pop culture festival “Cuncambias".
21. Roberto Pillitu
(photo by Alberto Mossa)
She is one of the heads of "Antas Teatro" and alongside Giulio Landis and Stefano Farris represents the core group which attracts several artists .
Her role on the stage ranges from poetic and dramas until playing the clown and kids games, and of course street theater on stilts.
Raimonda has a key role in the organization of the pop culture festival “Cuncambias".