The street artist Gionata Gesi, aka Ozmoat the invitation of the Municipality of La Spezia, recently inaugurated the mural Yesterday, Today and tomorrow at the gates of the former Quintino Sella air raid shelter. The shelter, built during the Second World War when La Spezia was one of the many objectives of the Allied offensive, was intended for the civilian population to protect themselves during the bombings. Then becoming a historical symbol of the city, the space, a few steps from the San Giorgio Castle, was transformed into a gallery thanks to the “La Spezia Forte” project.
Ozmo’s work portrays a face, or rather the eyes of a smiling, radiant, happy child placed right at the entrance to the Gallery and who watches and observes the visitors passing by. “I represented the face of a smiling child,” said Ozmo, “who, expanding on the walls of the corridor, looks at us directly, questioning us. This technique not only amplifies theMona Lisa effect (which gives the impression that the eyes of the person portrayed follow the viewer as he moves in front of the image, ed.) creating the illusion that the entire head moves to follow us, thus generating an even stronger emotional impact, but transforms the side walls into a space of celestial radiant light, resonating with the principles of the philosophy of “But” Japanese and Tao Te Ching where the void is full of meaning.” The artist then adds that the child “embodies all generations, evoking Peace, purity and openness, and projecting an optimistic vision of the future. This work transforms the city’s memory of war and destruction into a universal message of renewal and hope.”
It was an intense project that lasted about two weeks and which welcomed, during the works, not only curious passers-by, but also the students of the Cardarelli art high school, who were able to both carefully observe the execution of the work and meet the artist in the school auditorium.
To create the work, Ozmo had to use special paints to protect it from the sun, salt and rain: “it is the first time that I have created such a horizontal and accessible work by anyone, I therefore also have to think about its durability and restoreability,” explained the artist.
During the inauguration, the mayor Pierluigi Peracchini explained that “the work created by Ozmo at the entrance of the former Quintino Sella anti-aircraft shelter amplifies the emotions felt inside, where the simulation of the bombing of 18 April 1943 allows us to experience the intensity and fear of those dramatic moments on our skin. The eyes of that child speak to each of us and burden us with responsibility, they are smiling eyes, full of hope and life. However, man’s actions are often capable of causing enormous tragedies and removing all light from the gaze of people, including the most innocent. Our duty is to work and commit ourselves for peace and this work is here to remind us of this every day. I thank Ozmo for his work and for these days here in La Spezia”.
Everyone, therefore, from city residents to tourists, will be able to admire, even just for a glimpse, the mural and be enchanted by the child’s innocent gaze, thanks to the fantastic optical illusion, which will follow them along the street or even just by visiting the Quinto Sella Gallery.
But not only this: the mural also wants to focus and make us reflect on the ongoing disasters and wars that are flaring up everywhere in this historical period. “The history of the refuge, in fact, bears witness to war events”, as Ozmo explains, “and its current relevance becomes an integral part of the work, underlining the importance of building a future in which security and peace are shared and universally accessible values ”.
