The late Gianni Mariano honoured with a 52-metre long artwork in his hometown Fallo, Italy

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A group of young artists from Artist Proof Studio were selected for a residency programme in memory of Gianni Mariano, co-founder of Mastrantonio group, former BASA board member, chairman of the Artists Proof Studio board and mentorship pioneer, who sadly passed away in 2023.

Mariano was an inspiration to many. A man who lived his life to the full and who left an indelible mark on the art world has been honoured with a 52-metre long artwork in his hometown Fallo, in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy.

A visual celebration of Italian roots and intercultural connections, the extraordinary NAREVE project depicts the journey of Italian emigrants who left their homeland in search of new opportunities. The artwork reflects on the union between past and present, between those who left and those who stayed, describes landscapes that fade from one continent to another, cultures that intertwine, faces that express hope, nostalgia and love for their roots.

Francesco Mariano, Gianni’s youngest son, conceptualised the design of the mural, along with a team from Artist Proof Studio.

“One of the ways my father expressed his sentimentality to Fallo and Johannesburg, was through collecting all kinds of things, especially things relating to his family and his roots. Much to my mother’s dismay, our house in Johannesburg is filled with objects my father gathered over the years each with a specific meaning, what I like to call a Material Memoir.

His collection has become an archive through which we are able to bring to life our family history but also the broader history of the many stories that relate to the migrant’s journey, leaving one’s home in search of a better life and the intergenerational nostalgia that such courageous journeys bring.

These material memories were the starting point for the selection of themes which would eventually make their way onto the wall, signposts of past, present and future, the battle with one’s identity and the parallel narratives that immerge along the way,” says Francesco Mariano.

Drawing on their diverse backgrounds and experiences, the three artists from Artist Proof Studio, Maphoso George Mokwena, Themba Mdluli and Mohau Moholane, have created a visual narrative that reflects the shared history of emigration between Italy and South Africa. Betinho Mokwane, Tsako Hobyani and Katlego Kgomo contributed to the design, guided by APS’s Managing Director, Nathi Simelane.

“With the circular narrative of the three artists, George, Themba and Mohau making their way to our beloved village in the mountains of Abruzzo I see my dad’s legacy and this project itself as a powerful example of the potential of cross-cultural collaboration, a recognition of how overlapping narratives approached with a profound sentimentality can make our lives so much richer no matter what background we come from.”

Promoted by the Municipality of Fallo, in collaboration with the WOO Association and the Artist Proof Studio of Johannesburg, "Narevè" was selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Year of Italian Roots 2024.

The Narevè project was inaugurated in Fallo on 13 October, attended by national and international guests, including the Ambassador of South Africa in Italy, Nosipho Nausca Jean Jezile, and the General Director of sport, art and culture for the city of Johannesburg, Siyanda Mnukwa.

The man who touched countless lives, shaped futures and inspired so many, will forever be remembered through this homage.

Artist Proof Studio have established the Gianni Mariano Scholarship Fund in memory of Mariano’s commitment to art and youth education.