An ex railway worker, devoted to art, has turned his house into an art installation. He has called it ‘Oasi blu’ (Blue Oasis) and it is a tribute to travelling
Sometimes, some of the souvenirs we bring home from a journey, when placed next to each other, can enhance the sensations we experienced when we visited these places; and this enhancement can persist for a long time. But these souvenirs can also tell a story. When we admire these tangible memories, beauty manifests in our mind: it is the process of seeing, discovering and feeling. The world is a wonder. However, when these souvenirs are carefully chosen and displayed in a creative and original way, they can become art.
In via Litterio, near the historical city centre of Bagheria, a town in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, it is possible to experience something uniquely amazing. Here there is a house which does not go unnoticed. Already, its colours astonish us, arousing our curiosity. This house belongs to the Master Nino Rizzo, an ex-railway worker, devoted to art. He has turned his house into a site-specific art installation and has called it Oasi Blu (Blue Oasis), a tribute to the beauty of travelling.
The house is multi-storied and enchants us with its colour, a reminder of the nuances of blue we find in Marrakech. It is like a chest, ready to unveil its magical treasures hidden within.
As soon as we enter, our eyes instinctively follow the beguiling mixture of different cultures and places. All areas, despite their distinctive characteristics, harmoniously interact with one another. These treasures and artifacts include maps, paintings, votive chapels, works of art, memorabilia, collections, photos, coins, diaries, tickets, hints to cinema, to science, history and more. If you think you have seen all, here you can find more. This is why Oasi Blu can be described as a modern Wunderkammer. (Photo by Alessio Manna)
Nino Rizzo has gathered and assembled the memories of his travels around the world according to a personal concept, a journey inside his house, which is first and foremost a story.
There are rooms devoted to India, to the Sewers of Paris, a setting inspired by Portuguese tiles, another inspired by Animism, there is also the Christian room, and even a crypt devoted to Ulysses.
The artist thus depicts his passion for travelling through colours, people, stories and traditions, as well as through his personal experiences and through well-known stories.
The art-house was open to the public in September 2020, on the occasion of the event Le Vie Dei Tesori (The Treasure Path), a festival devoted to the promotion of Sicily’s cultural, monumental and artistic heritage. In August of the same year, it was chosen as the setting for the fashion brand Filly Biz‘s ad campaign, for their Spring-Summer 2021 Collection.
In Oasi Blu, time seems to have stopped and we are moved by its unexpected epiphanies; which cheer us up, stimulate our imagination, and broaden our minds. Its message is clear. Travelling is dreaming with open eyes.
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