He carves sculptures on dry trees and stones. It gives a second life to what is destined for oblivion and offers a singular example of recovery of waste materials. His name is Roberto Blasi, aka Roblas, seventy years old on June 13th and you won’t hear from him.
His sculptures are scattered between Vergiano, Villa Verucchio and the cycle path of Ponte Santa Maria Maddalena, in the Novafeltria area, without forgetting the sculpted boulders in the dock in San Giuliano mare. Creations that look like an open-air museum, including the latest work, created as a team on a diseased oak in front of the church of San Vito: it represents a three-metre-high crucified Christ. A theme, the religious one, which fascinates this artist even if he confesses with a smile that he doesn’t apply himself properly.
Born in Rimini, Roblas lives in the Clementine hamlet of Sant’Ermete and is a former Enel employee, retired in 2013. Precisely in that year, in addition to the collection of 400 bonsai, he began to cultivate his artistic passion which had until then been dormant. «A bet with myself – he defines it – which started from the creation of some papier-mâché puppets».
Surprises and setbacks
There was no shortage of twists and turns along the way. During the pandemic, for example, he carved a dry tree along the Rimini cycle path that starts from the Tiberius bridge. Many compliments were received on the occasion with a couple of pulled ears and the arrival of the uniforms. Cross-checks began and, once it was established that the tree was dead, it was cut down but its creation was spared. Another curiosity? A sculpture made from a gigantic sandstone boulder (6 men were needed to move it!) was taken away at night with a caterpillar. The disappointment, in that case, gave way to a shred of pride because an art theft is still the most authentic form of admiration. No doubt about the faithful companion who, as he reiterates, remains the chance that creates forms superior to talent.
Supporting him in his passion is his family, first and foremost his two sons who have distinguished themselves in various sports and a grandson who will blow out his first candle in July. It is difficult to understand whether he will follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, while the certainty is that Roblas’ artistic streak recalls “archaic forms and an almost archaeological aftertaste”.
Advice to the kids
«Everyone – he points out – has an unexpected wealth of creativity. And it is precisely in imagination that young people can find serenity, not caring about judgments and thinking only of having fun. Even from insignificant wood washed ashore by storms masterpieces can be born, combining ceramics, creativity and copper.” This is the case of the head of the winged horse of Greek mythology, Pegasus, or of a swordfish from which a mermaid emerges «in a metamorphosis which – he explains – symbolizes the unstoppable flow of life. A dreamlike vision compared to what our eyes are used to seeing or imagining.”
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