FestiWall is currently hosting their third street art festival in Ragusa, Sicily. Five large murals are to be painted by five international street artists including GUE (IT), Marat Morik (RU), Guido Van Helten (AU), Sebas Velasco (SPA), Zoerism (FRA), adding to the ten murals painted in previous years. FestiWall aims to activate urban regeneration with positive awareness.
For the 2017 Edition, FestiWall focused on the depopulation of the historic centre of the city of Ragusa and its repercussions on the urban area. The permanent murals will trigger a process of urban regeneration, giving to the citizens the opportunity to create a bond with the place where they live in.
Spanish artist Sebas Velasco’s mural is called “Il suonatore Gino /The Gino player” and his inspiration was from local vinyl shop owner Giorgio “Gino” Nobile.
His shop Magic Music, is the only vinyl record store in the Italian city.
Sebas entered his store searching for some music by Fabrizio de André. Here he met Gino, a man who has dedicated his life to music and helping people fall in love with music.
Sebas’ painted Gino’s portrait, and then some of the records he found at the store as the background, like Gino’s memories.
“There is in soul a sympathy for sounds and sensibility and that’s why music and visual arts express that which cannot be put into other words and that which cannot remain silent. It’s a universal language.” Sebas
Photo Credit Marcello Bocchieri