La Smorfia (The numbers of the Smorfia lottery game in Naples)
For these theme Biagio has especially constructed a rich and fascinating narrative, exploring the mystical subtleties
of the numerological systems of the Smorfia (In Naples people who are about to buy lottery tickets ask dream interpreters to convert all their experiences during the day and their dreams during the night into numbers).
These painting series, etching series, video and live performance were created between 1998 – 2002.
Every situation, happenings, objects and events has allocated one or more numbers.
The lottery system table in Italy is from 1 – 90.
Some attributed numbers from the Neapolitan book “La Smorfia”:
Italian Neapolitan English
4 il maiale 'O puorco The pork
14 l’ubriaco 'O mbriaco The drunkard
16 il sedere 'O culo The ass
20 la festa 'A festa The party / feast
22 il pazzo 'O pazzo The crazy person
34 la testa 'A capa The head
48 il morto che parla 'O muorto che pparla A dead person speaking
55 la musica 'A museca The music
57 il gobbo 'O scartellato The hunchbacked person
62 il morto ammazzato 'O muorto acciso The killed person
76 la fontana 'A funtana The fountain
85 le anime dei purgatorio Ll'aneme d' 'o priatorio The tormented souls in the purgatory
90 la paura 'A paura The fear
La Smorfia
Paintings series of 6 artworks
Oil and collage
on cardboard
55 x 80 cm
1999
Some paintings are SOLD
La Smorfia
Paintings series of 14 artworks
Oil on cardboard
35 x 45 cm
1999
Some paintings are SOLD
SOLD
La Smorfia
Photo-Etchings with chine collé
Series of 24 artworks
in colour
21 x 28 cm paper size
14 x 16 cm image size
2000
Many prints are SOLD
La Smorfia
Photo-Etchings
Series of 24 artworks
in black and white
21 x 28 cm paper size
14 x 16 cm image size
2000
Many prints are SOLD
The video and the live performance has been created in 2001 in collaboration with the
Swiss coreographer and dancer Andrea Herdeg.
In the beginning of his art career Biagio has especially constructed a rich and fascinating narrative, exploring the mystical subtleties of the numerological systems of the Smorfia (In Naples people who are about to buy lottery tickets ask dream interpreters to convert all their experiences during the day and their dreams during the night into numbers) and juxtaxposing these into the stark, and harsh realities of London urban life.
Brick Lane
Etching
10 x 23 cm image size
1999
Ed. 25
SOLD
Petticoat Lane
Etching
12,5 x 29 cm image size
1999
Ed. 25
SOLD
Soho
Etching
9 x 40 cm image size
1999
Ed. 25
SOLD
Soho
Etching with Chine Collé
22 x 46 cm image size
1999
Unique (Ed. 25)
SOLD
Pub in North London
Etching and Aquatint
Ca. 10 x 40 cm
1999
Ed. 25
SOLD
Pub in North London 2
Etching and Aquatint
Ca. 12 x 35 cm
1999
Ed. 25
SOLD
The Dome Pub, Soho
Etching and Aquatint
Ca. 12 x 40 cm
1999
Ed. 25
SOLD
Old Street
Etching
9 x 20,5 cm image size
1999
Ed. 25
SOLD
The Shop Window
Dry Point
10 x 15 cm image size
2008
Ed. 25
SOLD
Cocktail Lady
Dry Point
8 x 18 cm image size
2009
Ed. 25
SOLD
