The Italian Cultural Institute of São Paulo has commissioned two murals by artist Edoardo Ettorre, which highlight urban art as a space for connecting cultures, regions and human experiences. Realised in Fortaleza (Ceará) and São Paulo (SP), the murals “Gente di Mare” (Seafarers) and “Acolhida” (Acceptance) formed part of two distinct yet complementary projects, linked by the dialogue between Italy and Brazil and by the themes of belonging, memory and dignity.
In Fortaleza, “Gente di Mare” was created for the twelfth edition of the Festival Concreto and adorns a façade of the Dragão do Mar Centre for Art and Culture. The work stems from a family memory of the artist, inspired by his maternal grandmother.
In São Paulo, Ettorre created “Acolhida” to mark the 30th anniversary of Arsenal da Esperança, an Italian organisation dedicated to supporting people in vulnerable situations. The mural overlooks the railway line, which has historically been linked to migration flows between the São Paulo coast and the capital city.
The opening was attended by Deputy Consul Marianna Haddad, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute Lillo Teodoro Guarneri, Director of the Arsenal da Esperança Father Simone Bernardi, curator Giulia Lavinia Lupo, artist Edoardo Ettorre and deputy Fabio Porta, together with the Director of the Museum of Immigration, Alessandra Almeida, deputy Paulo Fiorilo and the President of the Comites, Alberto Mayer.
During his stay in Brazil, Ettorre also ran two workshops with guests at the Arsenal da Esperança and with students from the Dante Alighieri and Eugenio Montale Italian high schools.
