Pino Chiezzi
I SEGNI DEL DISCORSO

Description

The reason for this tribute to Beppe Fenoglio lies in the impression that reading his writings helps us live better.
The motivation is a persistent love that I try to address.
I made 100 drawings and selected 100 short excerpts from Beppe Fenoglio’s texts taken from the complete edition edited by Dante Isella, Einaudi-Gallimard in the Biblioteca della Pléiade (1992).
In dialogue with each fragment of text, but without any didactic intention, I propose a pencil drawing on paper: variations, subtractions, and digressions based on photographs I took in the Langhe at San Benedetto Belbo and archival images of Beppe Fenoglio. I search in his face, body, and places for evocative signs of his extraordinary writing.
After an initial lifelike representation, I move away with simplifications, deformations, plays on lines, shapes, and colors, attempting to capture aspects specific to that gaze and evocative of his brilliant writing ability.
For the drawings, I used the simplest supports and tools: paper, pencil, and in some cases acrylic paints.
I worked until I ran out of energy to continue.
The destination of this work didn’t affect my motivation to continue; even the possible destination of the fireplace didn’t deter me from this attempt to pay homage to Beppe Fenoglio. (From the introduction by Pino Chiezzi)