Drug addicts Song (Cantico dei Drogati)

Description

This painting stems from the emotional intensity of the song Cantico dei Drogati, which describes with raw realism the mind of a drug addict. The song explores the existential void and loneliness that define the experience of addiction, where there is no room for either God or love, only for internal ghosts. The final plea of the addict, asking to be taught a different alphabet than that of his cowardice, represents a glimmer of hope, despite everything.

At the time I began working on this piece, I was going through a pivotal moment in my life. The themes in the song mirrored, with surprising accuracy, the feelings I was experiencing during those years. The painting is set in the Valle dell'Acqua, a place that symbolizes carefree and significant moments in my life. Created in 2006, while I was in Abu Dhabi with the 50th Group, this work was born during a period of great change for me, both personally and professionally. The painting aims to convey the emotional complexity of those years, using the imagery and themes of the song as a reflection of my state of mind and the transformations I was undergoing.