''HIV-positive Artists in Italy''
The artist Raffaele Ciotola was born in Naples on 17 October 1964. His loving and receptive mother promoted his studies supporting his artistic nature. He obtained the Artistic High School School graduation and got the Master of Arts degree at the state institute of Arts "Filippo Palizzi" in Naples in 1983. The artist Raffaele Ciotola was born in Naples on 17 October 1964. His loving and receptive mother promoted his studies and supported his artistic talent. He obtained the Artistic High School School graduation and got the Master of Arts degree at the state institute of Arts "F.Palizzi" in Naples in 1983. Since he was a boy he has been devoting his life to painting in a professional manner; after his debut in 1980 at an exhibition in his hometown, he kept on taking part in other collective and personal exhibitions set up in several Italian cities until 2002 (Piano di Sorrento, St. Anne in Naples, Milano, Viterbo, Milan). He was awarded the gold medal at the National Biennial of Sacred Art in Torre del Greco in 1980 by prof. Mr Franco Girosi, a famous Neaolitan artist of the last century. It was foundamental for his training, the meetings with prof. Mr Franco Girosi and with Mr Luigi Signore, an artist known as one of the best sculptors of cribs in Italy today. He studied music and attended the voice class at the Conservatory of Naples, but the meeting he had in Rome in 1987 with Master Mr Renato Guelfi, opera singer and painter, was so crucial to his professional growth that he started performing as a singer in some Italian theatres (Lecce, Santa Maria di Leuca, Ronciglione, Villa Pignatelli in Naples). He got to obtained some rewards such as: the gold medal in "La Triade" Prize, Palazzo Sormani - Sala del Grechetto - Milano; the diploma of honor at St. Anastasia, Naples. His personal exhibition in Tuscia dates back to 2002 , in this occasion he exhibited for the first time at the Sala Anselmi in Viterbo. His painting style and production are characterized by an intense use of colours and by the chiaroscuro effects conveying a whole creative freedom and a boundless vital energy, without hiding any strong and eloquent emotion, leaving the viewer a hope, a light , the one that leads beyond any solitude and that blurs roles and social conventions. In fact, from the late 90s, his work is more focused on topical issues and feels the effect of his civil commitment against homophobia and discriminatory behaviors, so it became a vehicle to spread some nonconformist messages, even inspired by universal ethical values. In 2003 he created the artistic movement called " Stop Homoph Art" which aims to spread the culture of respect and fight against homophobia. From this battle, "The Madonna of the homosexuals/gays came to life, it became the emblematic work of his production and a copy will be exhibited for the first time in the foyer of the Teatro Mercadante in Naples on 18 October 2014.
So his landscapes and his dreamlike hermetic metaphysical views of the first period, they have been gradually replaced by works full of reflection and judgment which are well received by public and by critics, attracting the attention of Mr Jean-Louis Cougnon, Chief Excecutive at General Managment of European Parliament.
The artist Raffaele Ciotola
''MISLED NAIVETY''
In this artwork, the graphic representation of an U.F.O. personifies Christ on the holy cross, this is how the artist expresses the great mystery of Jesus’ coming and return to the Heavenly Father. The Master shows all his respect for Jesus through this pictorial work which tells people what the mysterious coming Jesus unleashes artistically inside him. Where did he really come from? Which side of the universe? And where is he now if he is risen and ascended to heaven? In author’s thought, extraterrestrials represent the most intelligent living beings, superior to humans in every sense. The artist sees in Christ all that mankind cannot yet understand. Did He ascend into heaven to the right hand of the Father? The author focuses on these words, leading him to a personal reflection which projects him into a place and setting different from our planet, the Earth. A different world, evolved and perhaps light years away from us. It is not spiritual, but a rationally true place. Possible? Probably for the author the Christ is not a spiritual being who rises again without any home, not a life form so high that it becomes like us to help us. How? He became man and, through His thought of love, He gave us an intelligent opportunity to be able to see all things under a different vision, so that we may evolve to understand that we are not of this world but belonging to His world. In the new testament it was written that He will return to the Earth at the end of the world (planet Earth). It will be an event for mankind by discovering its origin.
For more information please contact :e-mail maestror.c@gmail.com
VITERBO - ITALY