STUDIO , Pastello su carta- pacco   cm 68 x 78

STUDIO IN ACRILICO SU CARTONE .

Oils on linen , 79 x 57.5 cm.

LA PIAZZA

Acrilico su cartone ,  40 x 65 cm

AUTORITRATTO

Oils on canvas , 51 x 60 cm.

AL RIPARO DAL VENTO ...... 

Acquerello



Buona Pasqua !

MISSING PAINTINGS IN AUSTRALIA

Many years ago , when I had to leave Australia , I left some of my paintings with our dear friends Andres & Bev , and some other friends , Phil & Glen.

All the time , I kept in touch with Andres , even more than I did with Phil & Glen .

So , to my greatest surprise , I received an e-mail from Andres , without previous warning , giving me 2 DAYS to pick my belongings up , or else .....

REMEMBER THAT I AM LIVING IN EUROPE !!!

I called him straight away : he told me he needed to empty the basement for business purposes .

I replied I would have tried to contact Phil & Glen , who live nearby , and , please , to be patient just for a few more days .

Luckily Phil & Glen were at home , when I called : they understood the situation and called immediately Andres .

Within the " deadline " , they were ready to go and collect my paintings from Andres's place .

Buuut ... Andres didn't answer phone-calls and messages left by Glen ...

Then I received an e-mail from Andres , saying that he had left my paintings , on the road , in front of the Noosa Regional Art Gallery , which was CLOSED !!!!

I believe that Phil went into a lot of trouble but , finally , succeeded and recovered all the paintings Andres had left there ...

Packed and sent to me , the paintings arrived safely and in good condition to the italian address I had indicated .

I PUBLISH HERE THE PHOTOS OF THE 3 MISSING ONES , WHICH , MYSTERIOUSLY , WERE NEVER FOUND .... !!!

A BIG THANKS from my heart goes to PHIL & GLEN in Australia , and to MARCO , in Italy , who solved all the Customs problems .

                                           Oils on canvas , 65 x 54 cm.

                                            LA.GO(S)MORRA 

Oils on linen   51 x 70 cm.

THE  BLUE  CHAIR

Oils on linen

                                                   Oils on linen , 70 x 47,5 cm.

SHADOW OF A SOUND .

Oils on canvas , 64 x 53 cm.

                  CARNISKIA .

Oggi , giorno del suo compleanno , MARIALUISA ringrazia affettuosamente tutti quelli che le hanno fatto gli auguri !!

Oils on linen , 47.5 x 70 cm.

SENZA TITOLO .

                                                 Aquerello .

Marialuisa vede nel Natale una celebrazione della speranza : solo avendo sempre speranza , si riescono a superare gli ostacoli che sorgono , come in un gioco di video-game .

E dare un senso a tutto ciò che siamo e a quello che vorremmo essere .

TANTI CARI AUGURI A TUTTI !!!

                                   Aquerello .

                  BUON NATALE !!!

ACQUARELLINO DI NATALE III .

ACQUARELLINO DI NATALE II .

ACQUARELLINO DI NATALE I .

Oils on linen , 57 x 73 cm.

MUDAR DE RUMO .

Oils on linen ; 54,5 x 69 cm.

                                                 AGATHE .

Oils on Linen ; 66,5 x 74,5 cm.

............... OOUSHH !!! 

( The direction is free )

Oils on linen , 59 x 68 cm.

IT DOESN'T NEED A TITLE , DOES IT ???

Oils on linen , 89 x 57 cm.

COSMICO I .

Oils on linen , 78 x 69,5 cm.

Come Quando Fuori Piove .

Hear Drizzle Softly Coming .

Oils on linen , 68 x 61,5 cm.

UNA SCATOLA DA NON APRIRE .

A BOX NOT TO BE OPENED .

Oils on linen , 76,5 x 62,5 cm.

TUTTIALMARE .

Oils on linen , 65 x 61 cm.

UN UOVO CRUDO .

A RAW EGG .

Oils on linen , 55 x 40,5 cm.

NOODLE - SOUP .

UN MAZZO DI CARTE .

A PLAYING-CARDS DECK .

Oils on linen , 77 x 70 cm.

UN UOVO FRITTO .

A FRIED EGG .

Oils on linen : 112,5 x 24 cm.

Oils on canvas , 112 x 24 cm.

UN UOVO FRITTO .

A FRIED EGG .

Oils on linen , 60,5 x 45,5 cm.


MULINO A VENTO .
WIND-MILL .

Oils on canvas , 95 x 70 cm.



CORONA E SCETTRO CON PIUMACCHI SU ROVINE DI CARTAPESTA .


CROWN AND SCEPTRE WITH FEATHERS UPON RUINS OF PAPIER MÂCHÉ .

Oils on linen , 59 x 51 cm.


CIOCCOLATO E LIMONE , ..... E L' ALTRO DI VANIGLIA , NOCCIOLA E CAFFÈ .

CHOCOLATE AND LEMON , ..... AND THE OTHER ONE OF CREAM , HAZELNUT AND COFFEE .

Oils on linen , 87 x 55 cm.


PICNIC AL LAGO / PICNIC AT THE LAKE .

Oils on linen , 64 x 36 cm.

PASSAMI LO SCIALLE ... INCOMINCIA A FARE FREDDO !!!

GIVE ME THE SHAWL ... IT' S GETTING COOLER !!!

Oils on linen , 89 x 64 cm.


IL POETA .

Oils on linen , 62 x 78,5



MISERIE UMANE , INGHIOTTITE DAL BOSCO .

Oil on linen , 75 x 67,5 cm.

" ELETTRICO "

Oils on canvas , 75 x 61 cm.


.... BUONA PASQUA !!!!!

Oils on canvas , 82 x 64 cm.



YOU and I

Oils on canvas , 76 x 47 cm.




HIGH-RISE .

Oils on canvas , 78 x 48 cm


CHIARI , DOLCI , MORBIDI CACTUS .

81 x 65 cm. , Olio su tela .




" IN SOSPESO "

( TITOLO TUTTALTRO CHE PROVVISORIO .... )

Oils on canvas 64cm x 77cm

PRESENCE .

THERE ARE PLACES , ONLY A FEW ON EARTH , WHERE TIME STOPS , YOUR MIND IS DRAWN OUT OF YOUR BODY , AND , DESPITE A " NORMAL " SCENERY , ONE FEELS A PRESENCE , THE EYES CANNOT VISUALISE ....

Olio su tela , 51x60 cm.


DEDICATO AGLI AMICI DI SAN BERNARDINO ......

A volte , nella vita , basta un poco di simpatia e affetto da parte di persone , che appena ti conoscono , e , come per incanto , anche i problemi più grandi e dolorosi si ridimensionano , diventano più facili da sopportare ..

Oils on canvas , 54 x 47 cm.

UN GIORNO , SI VEDRÀ .........

Watercolour A4

MARIALUISA AUGURA UN BUON NATALE A TUTTE LE PERSONE CHE SE LO MERITANO DAVVERO .

78 x 59 cm.

THE CHAIR II .

- Prendete la stessa sedia e , adesso , immaginate la mamma , che avreste voluto avere ....

THE CHAIR .

Oils on canvas , 70 x 49 cm.

Prendere una sedia , metterla in mezzo a una stanza , sedersi " a cavalcioni " , immaginando che la stanza sia vuota ....

Olio su tela di lino , 68 x 89 cm.

... Titolo : " Quelle cose qui in basso , e , là fuori , in alto "

Quando un quadro è ricco di simbolismi e significati reconditi , generalmente ci si aspetta che l'artista ci offra una chiave di lettura o , perlomeno , qualche indicazione che ci aiuti a penetrare il mondo della sua opera , a comprenderne , in maniera idonea , tutta la sua complessità .

Certo , così , tutto apparirebbe più chiaro ed evidente ....

Marialuisa se ne rende conto , ma continua a voler esigere dai suoi spettatori uno sforzo profondo , una interpretazione personale vissuta e non da lei imposta !!

Però , non volendosi nascondere dietro una porta sprangata , in lei è nata l'idea di un compromesso : niente suggerimenti specifici , niente codici decifrati per Voi , ma , l'uso , per una delle rare volte , di un titolo che , se non definisce completamente il significato dell'opera , almeno indica una direzione .... e' una specie di mappa per districarvi in questo labirinto di rami ..... :

lasciatevi perdere là dentro , per poi ritrovarvi , " qui in basso e , là fuori in alto " .... !!!!

Carvão sobre papel .

MAFIA HIBERICA EM PRAIA DA LUZ - LAGOS .....

IL RIPOSO DEL GUERRIERO .....

Dorme ?

La stanchezza non è un sentimento , né sempre uno stato d'animo ; puó persino diventare un carattere somatico , come il colore dei capelli o il tremore di una mano ...

un poco come la follia , che non traspare agli occhi di tutti : c'è chi la sa riconoscere da lontano e chi ci vive quotidianamente a contatto , senza accorgersene .... uno sguardo distratto la puó scambiare con il sonno ; un osservatore troppo attento ed apprensivo ti vede giá morto , pronto per essere sotterrato !!

Si ... dorme e non vuole essere disturbato ...

PRAIA DA LUZ .......

....... Once upon a time , there was a fishing village , where all the people lived happily together ....

LA CASA DELLA MIA INFANZIA

Oils on canvas , 73 x 54 cm.

.... WATER and LIGHT : IMPORTANT ELEMENTS !!!

It is mainly when You lose something , that You realize its importance !!

Marialuisa , recently , has been experimenting great hardship : her private life has been denied the joy and tranquillity , which were an integral part of her artistic expression too ;

To explain the motivations which took her to create this painting , we could start from observing how two simple elements , pristine and fundamental for our life , can become symbols of values too often forgotten or polluted in these materialistic times ....

If You were surrounded by greedy people , individuals and institutions , which blatantly disrespect natural laws , destroy the environment , and infringe others' rights , for the mere purpose of making bigger profits and increasing their own power , You would certainly understand why Marialuisa has chosen a few drops of pure water and a few rays of clear light ...... as the inner protagonists of her latest work .

On a canvas , at least , she can restore the balance which is lost in the " real " world : she is taking her " revenge " against those enemies , who dared to try and cut off her water ... obscure her light !!!

81 x 60 cm.

EVERYTHING IS CHANGING ...... or is IT ???????????

A few days ago , worldwide , the International Day of the Woman was celebrated .

Strangely as it might appear , it did not come as a coincidence that Marialuisa gave the last touches to this painting on that very day !!

She has been attentively observing the evolution of the living conditions of this country , Portugal , in the last few years : the role of the Woman is gradually changing , becoming more assertive and , apparently more opportunities and freedom are there to be taken by all , without the discriminations and limitations which were common in the past ...

So a new role for the Woman both in the family and at work seems to emerge , with the approval of the authorities and the general public ...

Marialuisa , though , is rather skeptical and this painting contains many elements of her disillusion : she notices that the power still lies where it used to be and while women are allowed to accede to many important jobs and posts , are submitted to great pressures that , almost inevitably , become new chains ...

This new liberty for the Woman comes with strings attached and , often , limits her life much more dramatically than when she was confined to her bedroom and kitchen ....

Oil on canvas : 76x55 cm.


THE INNER STRUGGLE : THE CLOCK IS TICKING , BUT THE MIND DOESN'T CARE , IT ABSTRACTS ....

Sooner or later , it happens to everybody ..... Things go wrong , places change dramatically , you find yourself out of the picture , crying , when they are all smiling , runnig while they stand still ...
It is when life needs a a brave change , when everything you have learnt and grown to love , loses its meaning and you are left alone , staring the emptiness around you !!
Probably , that's too much to be read in a single painting .... but all the clues are there , for those who can breathe in the atmosphere , hear the noises and freeze their eyes on that clock ...

81 cm. x 59 cm.

NATAL 2006

Poupava verniz ,
louco da minha tolice ,
pintava divertido ,
contagiado , fazia saltar
um atelier de cores ,
de lagartos comia
a cola que se mexe ;
agora , em tempo de trevas ,
habitam aí gatos de porcelana , espreguiçados ,
papões apagam a luz
no subterrâneo
onde casamentos e enterros ,
por indolência ou sono , acontecem na penumbra ,
fora da vista e
da memoria .

Pálidos e magros ,
estira os braços , alongados
a crepitar madeiras ,
um menino espúrio ;
a lembrança perdeu ,
a mãe se foi no nevoeiro ;
não tem mais de um mês ,
de força leva-se avante ,
é só dele o fio de lã
que como milagre
adorna-se de girasoles , grandes
alegres e açucarados .

De sorrir incrédulo
o mundo acolhe ,
da variedade acomoda o circo grosso ,
a sorte dos pobres
não procura ,
bilhetes da rifa são fado pesado
que aceita com agrado ;
é o sopro da primavera na terra
a trazer germe de grão ;
sopa de arroz
cai como granizo ,
não é desgraça ,
será a refeição do homem alto ,
a imitar granito .

Dorme rosnando ,
recompensa do diabo a voz mole ,
no painel vivo de granada
simpatias cor de rosas
têm cultivadas ;
no chão a sua cama
leva rodas de carro ,
navega a corrente como
tábua de choco ;

Semente de uvas que solta vinho ,
engordará ,
defenderá uma ideia
parado e firme , como arvore
as pedras assentará ;
escultor duma armada ,
ao povo assassino
de olhos esquecidos se mostrará ,
a ordem branda
um pontapé nos dentes ,
de cabeças partirá à caça ,
o mato do caminho arrancará
e , de pele de tigre despido ,
desobediente ,
o monte das privacões
alcançará .

75 cm. x 61 cm.

... NEL CIELO DEI FALCHI ..........

Nel cielo dei falchi ,
in quel cielo
che non ha colore ,
ronza , perduto ,
il trenino di ogni infanzia ;
sbuffa nuvole di vapore ,
le regala a
quel cielo
che non dà calore ;
contorce un filo di latta ,
e lo schizza fino al sole .
Poi , dà forza
al suo motore ,
e scompare lontano ,
là dove
ho nascosto
il mio dolore .

78 x 54 cm.


MAIS , ALORS ... LES FRANÇAIS NE PEUVENT PAS PARTICIPER ????

... Bien sure qu'ils peuvent ... ça me plairait beaucoup , si on commence a recevoir des critiques dans la langue des grand artistes ...

Pour commencer , mes amis de France , pourquoi pas donner un titre à cette toile ??
Je suis certain que il y a des éléments que vous trouverai intéressant .. pas seulement les couleurs , j'espère ...

A bientôt ...

78 x 68 cm.

PARA LOS AMIGOS DE LENGUA CASTELLANA ..

... Por fin , ha llegado el vuestro momento : seria muy apreciado cada esfuerzo de la parte de Ustedes , para comentar y interpretar ( aunque criticando ... ) esta obra , en particular , y todo mi trabajo , en general .

También , seria fantástico , si los más atrevidos llegaran a sugerir un título para este mi última pintura , completando así el ciclo " vital " que cada artista establece , cuando se entrega a su publico ...

Prometo de continuar a utilizar Vuestro idioma , si me regresa la respuesta que me atiendo de Ustedes , mis queridos amigos de España y América latina !!

89 x 55 cm.


..... PER TUTTI I NOSTRI AMICI ITALIANI !!!

Questo ultimo quadro , che è anche il più recente , ci da l'occasione di rinnovare l'invito ad esprimere i Vostri sentimenti , le Vostre curiosità e anche le Vostre critiche , in forma di commenti .

Marialuisa potrebbe benissimo suggerirVi una interpretazione , una " chiave di lettura " , per questo quadro e per la sua pittura in generale , ma , così facendo , annullerebbe tutta la Vostra partecipazione " attiva " e svilirebbe il Vostro ruolo di " Spettatori " : importantissimo , in quanto qualsiasi opera deve provocare una reazione quanto più possibile personale e soggettiva !!

Questo mezzo " interattivo " ci permette , oggigiorno , di portare il processo un poco più avanti e con una maggiore diffusione che in passato ...

PER FAVORE .... APPROFITTIAMONE !!!

93 x 68 cm


ONE MORE PAINTING .... ONE MORE POST !!!!!

The purpose of this exercise is quite clear , in Marialuisa's mind : she paints what she feels , what she is attracted to .... and , then , she expects some " feed-back " from the public .

That's why she is publishing here this photo of her most recent work , where , obviously , horses seem to be the protagonists , in an apparently surreal environment .

If You asked her , she would , probably , explain all the details of this carefully intricate " vision " ; she could even give You the " key " to " open " it and feel what she felt ....

.... but , by doing so , we would defeat the original purpose of this Blog : to communicate and exchange experiences , which Marialuisa's works and the eyes ( .. and the words !! ) of the spectators should create together !!

Ideally , it would be up to the Visitors of this Blog , to comment and explain what Marialuisa , humbly , is only suggesting and presenting ..
That why comments are not only welcome but should be an integral part of this sharing experience ...

!!!!!! FAMILY PORTRAITS and WHAT'S BEHIND 'EM !!!!!!

These two paintings , recently completed , which look so different from one another ... , actually have much in common !!

Marialuisa has taken , this time , the function and the meaning of a portrait much farther than in the past : The two sisters who have inspired the two canvasses , share , of course , common anatomical features , but , unmistakably , as any other individual on this planet , represent a very personal and intimate " world " , that - Marialuisa believes - it's a true Artist's duty to discover and interpret !!

So , without imposing her views , Marialuisa has tried to link to the two sisters' inner " landscapes " and , in these two paintings , she has focused on the identity of the subject , more than the exterior looks , that everybody can clearly see in a photograph or a meeting in person !!

Perhaps , Sofia and Niki , at this stage , might find some difficulties to recognize themselves or would argue that the image they'd like to project around , is not what they see now depicted by Marialuisa ... It is quite normal - the artist believes - that a " metaphysical " portrait won't match even our own expectations and might even confuse some " spectators "; but , she stresses , it is a powerful tool to abandon superficiality , start a new quest and discover what's hidden in front of our eyes !!

If the persons were what they look like ... probably , the mission of the Artist would be so limited to become just an other job !!

WHEN MARIALUISA DREAMS .... SHE IS HARD TO FOLLOW !!!

A couple of months ago , this painting ... was shown to a few friends and got very mixed reactions !!

To the artist it represents something very " intense " , a private and personal insight of what eroticism is all about .... but , as usual , everybody would focus on different aspects , showing , once more , how the suggestive power of a work of art , can produce infinite reactions ..

Impossible to measure , without limits , an universe itself ... this little red skirt , dancing in the skies , can make you hot , excite your inner feelings , but your eyes , sooner or later ... will encounter the ice fields of the background !!

What feeling does prevail : are you HOT or COLD now ??

. .


.. SELF - PORTRAIT ??

MARIALUISA

LET'S WALK , WITH MARIALUISA , THE PATH OF OUR LIFE ....

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE ARTIST HAS GONE A VERY LONG WAY !!! ... BUT SHE STARTED , LIKE THE LITTLE MAN OF THIS PAITING , ALONE , ON A ( METAPHORICAL ) RIVER BED , LOOKING FOR A PATH , NOBODY COULD SEE .... THE FIRST , UNCERTAIN , STEPS , SHE TOOK IN DISBELIEF , BUT KEPT GOING ... UNTIL EVERYTHING BECAME QUITE CLEAR !!

THEN , THE PACE GOT FASTER AND FASTER .... AND SHE BEGAN TO REALISE WHICH WAS THE RIGHT DIRECTION ( AT LEAST , FOR HER .. ) .... WHAT WAS THE GOAL TO REACH ( EVEN IF IT'S UNREACHABLE , BY DEFINITION .. ) !!!

MARIALUISA WOULD LIKE TO IMAGINE THAT ALL THE PERSONS , LOOKING AT THIS PAINTING , COULD DISCOVER , FOR THEMSELVES , THEIR DIRECTION .....

SYMMETRICAL SYMBOLS OF A PERFECT LIFESTYLE

When MARIALUISA conceives a painting , consciously or not , she always takes proportions into account , and , then , when the lay-out is well defined , she adds more and more details until all the aspects of the scene she has in her mind , are well represented and meaningful .

This is a very good example of this creative process : in this canvas , which was painted in Australia , some 20 or so years ago , You can find all the elements of " a perfect life " !!
MARIALUISA celebrated a return to our origins ... to the simple rural things she experienced in her childhood : the peace and serenity of a small village , where the art of survival wasn't motive for shame ; the sense of shelter and protection only a close-knit community can give ; the triumph of Mother Nature , which provided everything needed , not only food ... is still recognized with gratitude and should be badly missed in our technological society !!!

The secret - MARILUISA thinks - would be to go back to the traditions and customs of other times ... She found inspiration , in that case , in a rural village in SE CHINA , but , in her heart , she could have been anywhere else : it wasn't ethnicity or geography which dictated her feelings and motivated her brushes ....
There ... she felt home , for a while ( and still does , in her painting ! ) .

She wishes that everybody can feel the same , while enjoying all the small details that make this picture a symbol itself of their own lives !!

Think about it !!!

MARIALUISA GIOVANNINI ABBRACCIA I CAMPIONI DEL MONDO !!!!!!!!

MARIALUISA GIOVANNINI CANNOT FORGET WHERE SHE IS COMING FROM : SHE , TOO , WAS SHOUTING ....... « FORZA AZZURRI !!!!!! »

Last night , after one of the greatest football matches of all times , Marialuisa was so happy and wanted to celebrate !!

She found , in her archives , an old painting , she had almost forgotten .... It was painted in Australia , in a moment of great " nostalgia " ; it depicts a very Italian scene ( not the stereotypical dish of spaghetti or pizza , though .. ) , a mysterious mask of joy and sadness chosen to blend in with its surroundings , to give a glimpse , to make an example , of what it feels to be ITALIAN .

I know an artist has no home , no boundaries .... but , sometimes , it only takes a football match to discover where one's heart is ....

MARIALUISA HASN'T GONE FISHING : LOOK AT ONE
OF HER LATEST WORKS !!!!!


Completed last month , this oil on linen , measuring 75 cm. x 66 cm. , shows , once more , all you want to see , dear spectator !
Our eyes , I am sure , are attracted by the vigour of the chromatic composition , but , then , is the mind taking over ??
Can an undefined shape , a shadow maybe , remain still and cold ? Or , will it develop into one of our wildest dreams ( a nightmare for some .. ) , will it make us happy , frightened or sad ?? Will this crazy world spin around a flagpole , .... will our mood change a little , for what we are just seeing ( or imagining ) ??

Marialuisa has thrown her line ....
now she is waiting for your comments !!!!

Oil on linen . 88 x 71 cm.

THE VERY LATEST PAINTING ON SHOW , ONLY FOR YOU !

It is not yet completely dry : it depicts a landscape of the town of Lagos , where the new faces the old ( not unusual , in this part of the world , so rapidly " developing ".. ) , and , together , in harmony ( at least , in the eyes of the artist ) , they constitute a challenging reality .

If you , leisurely , walked up and down , in the narrow alleys of this old walled town , you might encounter a hidden corner , which might remind you of this Marialuisa's dream .... Then , your mind should be left free to run around , looking for what others can't see , or see differently : only so , if your sight is pure and has no preconceptions , the true meaning of the place could appear to you .... But , please , don't try to record it by your camera !!!!

..... GREAT INVENTION ; THE TIME-MACHINE !!!!!!!

Thanks to new technology , we are now able to display , here , for you , a selection ( two paintings , ... more to come ! ) of " the Australian Period " : one , in fact , was painted thinking of the lava fields of Hawaii ...
Both these subjects , despite the obvious differences in colours and shapes , are rugged landscapes , where human life is well hidden , if existent .... They will , eventually , develop in Marialuisa's eyes , many years later and up to the present times , into an unconscious predilection for a simpler form of art , more essential and pure .....

THE LATEST TWO PAINTINGS : REMINISCENCES .....

THE MILANO OF MY DREAMS !!!!!!!

AN ARTIST DOES'T KNOW ABOUT PRACTICALITIES ,
BUT ..... SHE IS LEARNING FAST !!

When Marialuisa was offered the chance of exhibiting some of her most recent painting , in a newly opened Art-gallery , just a few hundred yards from where she is living , she couldn't believe her luck !!
It was last year , before Christmas and everything looked promising : the venue , in a posh new tourist development ; the choice of other , well reputed , local artists to accompany ( and add variety to ) her 3 paintings ( shown above ) and the kindness of the curator , an artist herself .

Little Marialuisa knew , that , the Art-Gallery was only a " front " , a prestigious tool to help selling apartments at more expensive prices , and that , when the financial goals were achieved , would have turned into a hairdresser's shop !!!!!!!

So , only a week before Christmas , the exhibition , which was planned until January , was abruptly stopped ... and everybody went home ( even possible buyers ... )

This is the price an artist has to pay , for living in a nice , but " touristy " place .....

...... RED , RED ... REDDISSIMO !!!!!!!!!!!!

... and the skies turned .... RED !!!!!!!!!

What might seem a mere detail , is becoming a very specific " trademark " : Marialuisa , living now in a very hot and sunny place , in the year 2000 or so , started her little revolution ... Now a permanent feature , she considers the colour , by which the sky appears in her paintings , quite an important way of expressing strong feelings and arising the attention ( and the expectations too !! ) of the people , which , unfortunately, are surrounded by dull and grey realities .....

LA SERIE AZZURRA : EVORA

( 1999 - 2000 )




In one of her " short trips " , in 1999 , Marialuisa discovered the town of Evora , which draws its architectural mixture and apparent untidiness from a fascinating past .. different cultures , and successive occupations left indelible marks all over the place and have a powerful effect on most visitors .

Marialuisa too succumbed to this eerie atmosphere , and , almost unconsciously , found herself drawing imaginary structures , which , gradually affirmed their right to exist out of the domain of fantasy . In this instance , they took charge of the paintings , in a very powerful manner , and the results that we can see in the 4 examples here shown , are less surreal , than one can imagine !!

The paintings , still , present blue skies but carry already the seeds of the future developments , we will see soon

" Serie Azzurra " : EVORA ( 1999 - 2000 )

" Serie Azzurra " : EVORA ( 1999 - 2000 )

IT LOOKED QUITE COZY ... DON'T YOU THINK SO ??!

More paintings ... more photographs of them !!!!!!!!!!

This time .... You don't need to read ! Just WATCH !!

PHOTOS , PHOTOS .... and more PHOTOS from the LAGOS EXHIBITION !! All for YOU to enjoy ....

...... LAGOS - PORTUGAL 11 to 20 September 2003 .....

Marialuisa found the courage , at last , to organise her first exhibition in what was becoming her country of residence and from where was drawing the inspiration for a series of oils , aptly named " LUDOS " ( plays ) , to signify her joy of life and the irony by which she always has related to her surroundings !! It was a great success of critics and public in general ( mainly , youngsters ) : if she thought of the commercial side , she wouldn't have chosen a small sleepy town in Southern Portugal !

.....VIVA L'ITALIA ... !!!!!!

Marialuisa , at long last , after more than a decade of peregrinations ... returns where she was born !
In Milano , in September / October 1997 , everybody could see what she brought from so far :
varied subjects , ranging from a "Carnival in Venice" , to a surreal Tiananmen Square , a Russian "dream" ( also shown here ) and Indian hot sunsets .

It was only for that exhibition , though , that she remained there : ....after a couple of months , before the foggy winter was looming , Marialuisa was already gone ...

...the news of having won the Coppa d'Oro " Città di Firenze " 1997 ( with the painting " passato , presente e futuro " , whose reproduction opens this post ) ...reached her , when she was already ....in the land of light ( Southern Portugal ) .

HAWAII and AUSTRALIA ( 1983 - 1996 )

...And you thought that Marialuisa had settled down in a remote South Pacific Island !!
In fact , from there too , she had to go ( a visa wouldn't last forever , if you are a foreigner with bright ideas .. ) and , the following year , 1983 , saw a dramatic change of lifestyle , if not of colours and surroundings ... The tourists go to Hawaii ( especially to the "Big Island ") , in search of peace and relaxation , and they are prepared to pay big money for a week in Paradise : the travel agents promote that destination as one of the most exclusive in the world ....but to the eyes of an artist , the 5-star hotels , which dot the pristine beaches , are only an inconvenience , a minor obstacle between her and the tropical lush of Nature at its best ! And , far from madding crowds , she rediscovered , there , a pleasure for simple , figurative paintings , where light and colours were the main protagonists .

Every now and again , upon commission , Marialuisa practised the art of portrait too , depicting every man ..and his dog !!

But , being a kind of "touristy" place , she didn't find it appropriate to exhibit her works , which she kept ... for the next destination : Australia , a country so huge and inviting , impossible to be missed by whom is a serious Nature-lover !
There , in the Art-Gallery at Noosa Junction and at the Harbour Gallery in Tewantin ( Queensland ) , she found the space she was looking for , not only metaphorically , and , helped by local fellow-artists , exposed two series of oils , which , oddly enough , were painted and inspired by trips in other countries ... like the one we show you here , definitely a Chinese rural landscape .

It was about time to go back to the roots ....
but we leave that for the next episode !!

Here they are , at last , the two paintings of the Tongan period ( ..we had to search deep down , in our dusty archives !! )

Would you like to know how it all happened ? ...and WHERE ????

Well , Marialuisa had studied at the famous "Fine Arts Academy" in Brera - Milano ; she had learnt more practicalities in various painters' ateliers , always in Milano : there she perfected her technique and started to express the talent she was born with ....
Oddly enough , she was also attending the Geology University course , which she almost completed ...

But , Life had in store something completely different for her : she met a guy , which was a keen traveller , and , to follow him everywhere , Marialuisa almost forgot her way : she was learning , experiencing , meeting new people , even changing many perspectives ... but she wasn't painting at all ( only a few sketches , now and again , to retain memories and places , to keep head & hands happy ..) .

We would not have seen more of her peinture , if Marialuisa had not landed in CHILE ..: there , in Zapallar , in front of a new sea , surrounded by the warmth one can only experience in a small village where traditions , friendship and trust are values still kept in high regard , it was possible ( indeed , it was imperative ) to resume oils & brushes .... It helped , a lot , to have met a local artist , a self-taught "naive " painter , Arturo Rojo , who , probably gave her good advice , and , above all , a great encouragement . It was 1979 , she was 26 years old and more than ready to become herself ..... In that period , Marialuisa painted everywhere , on any surface she found available ( cardboard was there almost for free ...) ; subjects abounded there : landscapes , marinas and portraits , which , unfortunately , we cannot show here ( they were all sold to local people , and , some , lost in successive moving .... The colours , already bright and vivid , reflected the nature of the place , and , will leave a permanent trace in all the future works .

It didn't last long ( a couple of years ..) , before the appeal of those roaring waves started teasing , again , her desire of adventure and discovery : off she went , setting sail into the Pacific ....following the wake of GAUGAIN .....

....Marialuisa landed in many islands : French Polynesia , Samoa , Fiji , New Caledonia , and , out of the touristy trends , it was TONGA , without electricity or running water , the place chosen to lead a simple , natural life and ....paint !!
From , that period , we can show a couple of small canvases ,dated 1982 : one of a local "beauty", a teenager , and the other , an intriguing portrait of her "landlord" .

Well , until the next instalment ... enjoy those !!

Marialuisa Giovannini was born in Milan ( Italy ) , in 1953 .
From the Italian culture , she retains her love for arts ( efemerous and not .. ) and the language which , in the western world , she considers the most expressive !
Lived in many countries : in Chile , where the people's warmth filled her heart ; in some South Pacific Islands she learnt the gift of sharing , even the least , and how powerful , sometimes , the gentle Ocean can be .. ; in Australia the strong lights marked her experience .
Now , in Portugal , she's learning how patience can also be an art....
All along her life , she carried the brushes and colours with and within her !