Gaetano Fracassio
Life, style & influence
Gaetano Fracassio was born in Bitonto on December 15th, 1961.
But in practice his parents decides to register his birth only after 15 days, therefore in his registration of vital records his birth year is 1962.
His father decides to move to Milan with the whole family.
That which characterizes his youth is his heterogeneous experiences: at a young age, he takes part in the Community Centers like Leoncavallo; he also plays music in some youth bands. Then he engages in a fruitful career in television production.
It’s the uncertainty of his first fifteen days of life, during which he might be practically regarded as a “clandestine”, that marks the key meaning of his artistic research; he utilizes symbols that give voice to the feelings of “not belonging”. To free himself from this sensation of emptiness at his birth, Gaetano Fracassio creates his personal mythology connected with that of his family.
His subject matters therefore range from suitcases, homes considered as habitations of the soul, to shadows in sunny courtyards, all the elements he needs to re establish the connections with his land of origin.
His works
Gaetano Fracassio always feels his vocation to tie with his origin, the peasant life. As a story-teller, he tells us that art does provide meaning, value and dignity to each person who feeds on it. For his paintings, which have a strong poetic connotations, the uses oil paints and marble dust.
Moreover, he creates installations with symbols bound to every-day life, like small suitcases and miniature houses, considered as habitations of the soul, to shadows in sunny courtyards, all the elements he needs to reestablish the connections with his land of origin.
