I believe that my style of painting is "figural" in other words, the final result is obtained by means of strokes and colours, using elements obtained from a long observation of the natural, original shapes.

These shapes can be of a figurative derivation on first look, but then appear to undergo a re-elaboration so that they assume multiple, new characters, thus becoming original in the process of reconstruction. So the concept that we have defined as "figural" links with syntheses that are, step by step, animated by the strokes and colour composition into easily identifiable series showing key elements that characterise the visual aspect of the painting.

In this pictorial process, we can discover links with the un-urbanized human form and other signs of abstraction born from traces of extinct forms.

It is in this way that a series of themes formed: themes such as "I Sedianti" in the '80s, "Le Stanze" in 1990, "Le Stanze Geologiche" in 1992, "La Figura nel Giallo" in 1993, "Il Viaggiatore" in 1996, then "La Balena Rossa" in 2003 and the theme of "I Filosofi" in 2001, until we reach, in 2018, the theme of "I Filosofi Sedianti".

Searching through my memory of my beloved subjects from my cultural background, I have chosen one, the Philosophers. Yes, the Philosophers could become a theme for new paintings. These emblematic figures that I chose to make descend from the sky, that I equipped with a ritual loop-topped staff - these figures hand out books during both sunny days and starry nights, flying above cities, suburbs, factories and country landscapes devoid of human presence.

The first painting created on the theme "I Filosofi" was show in China at the two exhibitions of the movement "Arte Sentimentale" (to which I belong together with Lanci, Scarpante and Wolf) which were held there in August and September 2001.

My philosophers don't belong to any specific type of real philosophers that lived throughout the ages, but they are the product of my need to create a figural form that I defined as a "filosofo": he is his own pictorial idol, the bearer of new artistic expression.

They have been moulded with a strong colour contrast and a sharp stroke to assert what is their classical and anthropological concept during their development.

These philosophers of mine also use sometime archaic symbolism and they soar in a flight that is characterised by gestures that are connected to everything that lies below them, including the humans that are waiting for them.     They are the bearers of new, creative ideals.

For this theme I have used both bright and deeply nocturnal colours, whereas, in some places, I have also inserted paper under the colours to create a relief effect; the picture itself was suggesting to me this type of technique whilst I was working on the painting.

"I Filosofi" need continuous research which pushes me to always consider new aspects related to their transformation and to their pictorial realization.

This is the most complex theme that I have covered since "I Sedianti"; it represents a change that has matured by taking into account recent experiences which have helped to refine my thinking methods about the potential of this form of artistic expression. All of my themes are connected by a strict procedure, synthesising new inspirations, but never forgetting how the initial idea must support the content of the picture in a single unifying gesture, open to future form exploration.

                                            Umberto Falchini

 

See also:

• BRUNO SULLO – Textus receptus for “I Filosofi“
• BIOGRAPHY