– by Corrado Speziale –
Over 40 artists of different backgrounds gathered around the project of a large “shared” flag with the universal meaning of Peace. The work, born in Forte San Jachiddu, was completed last Sunday at Passeggiata a mare. After the necessary technical measures, on May 19th, on the occasion of the Spring Festival, it will be donated to the Ecological Park, where it will remain on permanent display.
A flag as a symbol of equality, sharing, participation in a Peace project. Like any idea that is transformed into a work, it is the profound meanings that stimulate the protagonists. The idea was born in the San Jachiddu Ecological Park, an area immersed in the heart of the Peloritani around the Fort, a late 19th century Umbertine structure, freed from war prerogatives and transformed into a place and symbol of Peace. A reality aimed at dialogue, reflection and acceptance, founded on the healthiest principles through which to rediscover a shared meaning, a common desire for humanity.
Among those walls surrounded by centuries-old oaks and Mediterranean scrub, re-greened after the dramatic fire of 2017, a message is conceived and hope is breathed: creating a flag that represents Peace, relying on the universal language of art.
Thus was born a shared path that involved over 40 artists, mainly painters, coming from the most varied sectors. The objective was to arrive in the shortest time possible at an idea and a draft that could be taken to the streets so that citizens could adhere to it and freely participate in the completion of the canvas, with particular attention to the youngest. It was the artists themselves who broadened the scope of their participation, without age or style barriers, stereotypes of any kind or anything else. A healthy and sincere word of mouth, sort of open call totally free. Creating bonds, relationships between different generations, believing in the possibility of bringing together different characters within the same work, is already the very sign of the mission. A tool that in itself is one with the laudable aims of the project.
“In designing the canvas, we understood coexistence and collaboration as a peaceful, demonstrative, exemplary process of how in our differences we can unite outside conflict mechanisms, passing, at least, through overcoming them,” says Davide Pompejano , among the creators of the project. “Everything was born with a political objective too, to deal with a global situation in which it is difficult to remain silent, and which however often sees us helpless and unable to act, except through this type of symbolic event, which unfortunately remains such. The value, perhaps, lies in creating community and showing it to younger people as a possibility”, continued Davide. From idea to facts: “Many people responded to the first call, sitting in front of a white canvas, in a circle, inside the gazebo of the San Jachiddu Ecological Park, where a common solution was sought. It was a long and peaceful process. The result was to paint a large world without geographical and political borders on which white flags were posted, on which anyone could paint their own personal idea or image of Peace, close to that of others”, is Davide’s account , satisfied with this operation.
So, we have arrived at the draft, entering the operational phase of the work, with the canvas made available to everyone last Sunday, at the Passeggiata a mare, on Viale della Libertà. Place chosen as it was suitable for the purpose, being frequented by families with children, to whom the message was particularly aimed, with the desire for their direct and conscious involvement.
The last phase will now be to create a suitable structure, through a technical intervention that gives safety and solidity to the work so that it will stand up over time. This is so that it can be donated to the San Jachiddu Ecological Park, where the flag will be displayed on May 19th, on the occasion of the Spring Festival, to remain there on a permanent basis. “It will be a symbol of rebirth, representing a city united under a single flag, that of Peace”, Davide Pompejano finally specifies.
The work still lacks a name. In that sense, it is very likely that she can be named Ciuri, Ciatu, Cori, or Bannera.
A welcome Sicilian brand for this “plan” of Peace which ideally starts from Messina towards the peoples of the world, currently dramatically affected by the war.
