After the death of my mother, the death of my business followed. The year was 2012 and I sold all of my belongings, (except for my three cats, but cats are never belongings.) and I took off for my latest love - The city of Napoli in the south of Italy.
It was a strange thing to do, with very little money. But I had become fearless. And after 19 years in the fashion business, I was glad to give it up and focus on art and just existing, whatever way. Besides I was literally following my dreams.
My first address in Napoli was at Santa Maria la Nova, a cheap old apartment that I shared with two others and my cats.
After my arrival and since leaving Germany, I felt as if I were drunk without drinking, and the next morning I awoke with a feeling similar to a hangover (that stayed with me for 2 months). But, the first morning I got up to get some breakfast, outside on a wall I discovered a fantastic painting, just around the corner outside! It was painted on paper and plastered to the building next to mine. It was made by someone who loved the same artists that I did! Gosh! This must be by an artist who loves the same art I do' I spoke aloud. It was a painting I had loved for many years, The Guardian Angel by Giovanni Antonio Galli .jpg)
The Guardian Angel - Giovanni Antonio Galli
But this was a very personal homage, by a very sensitive artist. Done so beautifully, with so much grace and style! Also, the place that he had chosen for it was perfectly wonderful.
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) Photos by Žilda
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I loved it right then and there, I thought somebody here... is really special.
In the following weeks, still numb with that hangover feeling, I went exploring my new city. It was amazing and spooky at the same time. I didn't know where I was going, as I never used maps. I would just walk from one marvelous street to the next. It was like I had stepped out of a time machine. Certainly Napoli is a European city, but it doesn't feel like one. No... it was much better and it felt more like Morocco, a country I adore. It was wild,crazy and dangerous, and it seems everything could be possible in Napoli! I loved it. And while discovering Napoli and it's magic places, I always stumbled upon these fabulous paintings that were so beautifully done and placed on walls in the most perfect parts of Napoli. So they began popping into my mind while trying to get some sleep.
The next morning I left for another journey around Napoli, this time it would take to up the hills to Vomero. It was my first planned excursion because I had fallen for Cosimo Fanzago. Fanzago was an Italian architect and sculptor, generally considered the greatest such artist of the Baroque period and I had wanted to see everything he was associated with after falling in love with the Palazzo Donn'Anna.
Donn'Anna was the reason I chose Napoli as my new home, after dreaming of this palace without ever knowing of it's existence, nor where it was. But to dream of something and then stand before it was miraculous! That is why I moved there. And the city's spell of the sirens is still upon me, even after all this time.
Villa Donn'Anna - In the lore of the city of the Sirens, it is said to have been a place of various murders, sex orgies and magic.
So, up I went to the Vomero, heavily urbanized and inhabited by the wealthy middle class. Not so thrilling to me, because I prefer the nitty gritty areas like Sanita or Monte Santo, but I did not know that yet. Well, the walk up there was just wonderful not to mention the spectacular view of the city. But half way there I stopped in amazement. There in front of me was another mysterious painting, and this time it was a homage to one of my all time favorite painters Edward Burne-Jones.
Photo by Žilda
So great! and it was once again perfectly placed. And this time I had a camera from a friend! I took quite a few, here's one...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexzondro/8248676345/in/dateposted-public/
I was excited to get home and google it to find out, who did these wonderful works of art in such genius places?
And then I did! His name was Žilda.
And I found out a lot more that I will tell you next time.
Sorry, but I must get some sleep. I've got to much work tomorrow. I promise to continue, because there is a lot more to mention. But, I leave you with this jewel...
Thank You, Alex .... I hope to keep up, I'm kind of slow.
nice
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