Ischia: Architecture and Fingerpainting

2 Posted by - October 6, 2014 - News

In July I was invited to Ischia to participate as a guest finger painter in the Premio Internazionale Ischia di Architettura. Earlier in the Year I had designed the poster for the event.

It was an exceptional experience. I met some of Italy’s finest architects, old friend Hani Rachid of Asymptote and Indian architect Bijoy Jain. Very different approaches, both inspiring.

Highlights for me included fingerpainting on the great Rock at Sant’Angelo for the architects, and then on occasion of Sant’Anna, live fingerpainting on the great Aragonese Castle of Ischia in front of over 15,000 people.  For Sant’Anna four island communities compete with decorated boats. I painted live using the amazing Tagtool app on the walls of the castle as they paraded. There was live music, pyrotechnics and the host, Lucianna De Falco, recited poems in Napoletano to two of my animated finger paintings. Ironic that lord Nelson set it on fire with cannon fire and me with my drawing.

Rainews interviewed me while I was there, posting my collaboration with l’Associazione Dalla Luna and Graphite24, Bari.

My interview with PIDA is here

Thanks to Giovannangelo De Angelis and my new friends in Ischia for making all this happen.

Matthew Watkins Fingerpainting at Sant'Anna

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