Franco Scaldati  is Palermo’s poet, the storyteller of this city’s bowels.

He was capable of diving into the deepest shadows and celebrating the wonder. Amidst the rubble, he unveiled that which cannot be seen with a superficial gaze.

He worked in this neighbourhood, in the Church of San Saverio, and this is where I chose to paint his face to make it an everlasting memory, so that the people of Palermo will know who Franco Scaldati is, so that the world will know. A forgotten poet, maybe an unknown one, or at least, little known.

This painting exudes the desire to show the beauty of this city. Franco Scaldati becomes for us an occasion to narrate ourselves, say who we are, better know ourselves, dive into our bowels, into our depths. He was an extraordinary and cynical poet who never feared to look Palermo and its people in their eyes: he worked with them, he did theatre in the Albergheria neighbourhood, also with amateur actors. Luckily there are people who understood his work and loved him.

THANKS TO: VediPalermo, Compagnia Franco Scaldati, Spazio Franco, Padre Cosimo Scordato e la famiglia Scaldati, Domenico di Pizzottando, Ninni Annaloro per la foto e il Centro sociale San Francesco Saverio.