Artisans in Valle d’Aosta, Franco Pinet: «sculpture, between freedom and beauty»

Artisans in Valle d’Aosta, Franco Pinet: «sculpture, between freedom and beauty».

Gazzetta Matin began a journey to get to know the artisans awarded on the occasion of the 1024th Sant’Orso Fair.

Nadia Camposaragna will take care of the tour in the workshops of the artisans who distinguished themselves in this edition of the Millenaria.
After knowing Marcel Diemoz, Prix ​​Don Garino; Aldo BollonPrix Jans with the vannerie course of Saint-Marcel; Michael MunariPrix Enfanthéâtre; Louis MarquisPrix Berton; Ornella Crétazdouble prize at La Saint-Ours 2024: Prix Savt-Foire de Saint-Ours awarded by Savt to the most original or innovative work or stand in the traditional craft sector and which best illustrates the world of work and Prix Fidapa awarded by Italian Federation of Women, Arts, Professions and Business to the exhibitor who created the most creative and artistic work, Angelo Giuseppe Bettoni‘Pine’ for everyone, Prix Noces d’or avec la Foire; Sebastian Yon which was awarded the most coveted Prix, the Prix La Saint-Ours 2024, Cristian Gallego Selles, Prix ​​Domenico Orsi, awarded to the sculptor who represented the concept of gift; Davide Brusaferro17 years old, Prix Amédée Berthod, awarded to the most promising exhibitor under 25 years old, let’s know Franco Pinet, Prix ​​Ville d’Aoste Franco Balan.

To win the Prix ​​de la Ville d’Aoste – Franco Balan to the craftsman whose works stand out not only for respect for tradition, but also for a sense of research and innovation, with sculpture Crystals of lightwhose various materials and colors convey the playful and light spirit that Franco Balan put into his works, was the master craftsman Franco Pinet.

A work between abstract and conceptual

Franco, a prize that made her particularly happy…
«I am happy with the award and the motivation also because, among other recognitions, this is more part of my being a sculptor. The work, between the abstract and the conceptual, is taken from an ancient walnut beam, partly left original and with worms, partly worked in a geometric way to represent rock crystals whose light reflections are represented by colored threads ».

Born in Issogne, where he lives and has a laboratory and atelier, he is married to Olgahas two daughters and two grandchildren.
After his agricultural start-up in Trino Vercellese, he became an apprentice marble worker, mechanic and assistant in his parents’ bar in Issogne.
After graduating, he was an Alpine driver in Merano (BZ), and was a metallurgical worker at the Ilssa Viola in Pont-Saint.Martin until 1993 before moving on to professional sculpture.

How did you come to this profession?

«In 1976 I started with Lucio Duc in one of his first sculpture courses here in Issogne and, as a student, in 1977, I exhibited for the first time at the Sant’Orso Fair in Aosta where the following year I received first prize.

In those years I met the sculptor Mario Stuffer which immediately encouraged me to sculpt what I liked most without listening to anyone.
I then continued as a self-taught artist with my bench, first at the Arco d’Augusto then at Porta Praetoria and from 2000 at the Atelier des Métiers.
I also exhibited at the Petite Foire in Donnas and at the Pâquerette in Courmayeur, but only a few times.”

More essential sculpture and color studies

Aiming for creative freedom, Pinet, from his almost primordial realistic-figurative beginnings, moved on to a more essential, sinuous and abstract sculpture, through constant research on shapes, volumes, solids and voids, lines and dynamism, materials, techniques and color studies.

«I use natural pigments which, when applied, are fixed by penetrating deeply, but which are delicate, respecting the wood and its grain, trying to modulate the shades by combining them as best as possible.
In this regard, I have attended courses on the use of colours, water-based paint and special glues and I prefer to sculpt walnut, maple and lime in combination with old woods, such as for the panels which I complete by applying the sculpted part to a base”.

Honors and awards

Since 1978 the sculptor has received many first prizes, including in competitions outside Valle d’Aosta such as in Bardonecchia in 1993 and 1994 and in Rivoli in 2001, in addition to the special prize in Cortina in 1988.

He was among the founders ofArtZapot Association and his, in 2014, was the sketch for the 15th Pendant for Life, the annual charity project of Asiv.
In 2003, Nativitya colored walnut bas-relief, commissioned by the Valle d’Aosta Region, is donated to the Pope.

Among the numerous exhibitions, the bi-personal Au cœur du bois at the Maison du Valle d’Aoste in Paris in 2017 and the solo show The freedom to do, to create, to… in Arvier in 2018.

In 2022 the table Outdoor games it is among the purchase prizes chosen by the Valle d’Aosta Region.

The experience of the Bottega Scuola and the freedom of doing

Shortly after the establishment of the Bottega Scuola, he also taught…
«Until 2010 because when you retire you can no longer keep it, even if you remain a master craftsman.
Now I have fun and, no longer having thoughts linked in any way to the market that led to meeting the public’s taste anymore, I realize what I want; like the abstract, which in truth I have always done inspired by artistic avant-gardes including futurism.

How the idea was born

For the subjects to be created, the inspiration may perhaps come from a road sign, a person or a broken plant.
I then develop the idea and design it through drawing, for which I have always had a passion.”

Some of his subjects, bas-reliefs or works in the round, make up thematic series…
«I dedicated one series to the frescoes in the lunettes of the Castle of Issogne and one to the musicians because each musical instrument is linked to the movement and the singular poses and details of those who play it. Aspects that I am very interested in representing.”

Freedom of expression and beauty

What do you look for in sculpture?

«Freedom of expression and, in every work I create, the essential function which, for me, must be to embellish the space, whether private or public, but also verticalisation and spatiality, as for example I did for Crystals of Light And Hole in space».

Has it changed more you or the Sant’Orso Fair over time?
«I both think differently – he says smiling -, but the credit for the improvement achieved by the Fair goes to the artisans and to those who pass on being “artisans” through teaching.

How does time pass outside the laboratory…
«With my wife I am a grandfather and I live the mountains in a simple way, walking up here in Issogne or in the Mont Avic Natural Park and I go mushrooming… when I am there».

(nadia camposaragna)