ETTORE FICO. COSTE CONTRAPPOSTE

This autumn, Marina Bastianello Gallery presents Coste contrapposte (Opposite Shores), a solo exhibition dedicated to Ettore Fico (1917–2004), one of the most remarkable figures in 20th-century Italian painting. Curated by Andrea Busto, the show brings together 15 works – including oils on canvas, temperas on paper, and drawings – accompanied by a catalogue with texts by Angela Tecce and Andrea Busto.
The exhibition offers a fresh perspective on Mediterranean landscapes, from the cliffs of Amalfi and the gardens of Positano to the rugged scenery of the Camargue and the pristine beaches of the post-war years. Through the windows of the gallery, these coastal visions enter into dialogue with the Venetian lagoon. Created in the 1950s and 1960s, Fico’s works reveal a cinematic gaze that echoes the visual power of Visconti (La terra trema) and Rossellini (Stromboli).
With a bold, calligraphic line – at once reminiscent of Japanese brushwork and baroque exuberance – Fico captures an image of Italy still untouched by mass tourism.