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Abstractions
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- - - “the other side” to SIMBARI
! ! ?
Symbolistic
Expressionism
Gone are the ‘seascapes’, reminding us of ‘sun and sea’ - - -
those colourful land and /or sea ‘scenes’ with beautiful girls, or
young boys on bicycles - - - - the Mediterranean - - - the SIMBARI Blue
. . . reminding us of the warmth of the Sun - - - !
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Few people realise that Nicola created a series of abstract sculptures
in the
early
1970s . . .
he called these his “symbolistic
expressionist” period . . .
After he bought his Paris Studio, in the heart of St. Germain, he
became greatly influenced by the electric creative atmosphere there,
and wanted to find new ways to express himself and his art - -
-
First
he created a series of silkscreen prints
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“The Ear”
silksceen print ©SIMBARI |
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He was excited by the new
“freedom” that these ‘abstractions’ afforded him . . . .
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He returned to Rome. . . to create a series of large metal sculptures, which stood in the ‘piazza’ of our villa . . .! “Torax”
Metal sculpture ©SIMBARI |
then, several large canvases, followed . . .
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For me, it seemed that he was set ‘free’ from the restrictions of the “canvas” . . . Mixing abstractions with all that he saw around him, and his colours became more vibrant . . . “The Falcon”
oil on canvas ©SIMBARI |
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The metal works were to ‘liberate’ Simbari !
Sadly, I do not know where they are now . . . [ Do you know ? - contact me ! ]
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I always felt that Nicola had
been ‘influenced’ by his good friend,
the Hungarian sculptor, Amerigo (Imre) Tot |
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During this period, Tot was a
frequent and welcomed visitor to our home
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- - - and several of
Amerigo’s sculptures were displayed around the pool area and in front
of Nicola’s Studio ! - - - here, Nicola poses with a sculpture of his and one of Tot’s abstract sculptures - - - |
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This “period” of ‘Life with an Artist’ was a NEW ‘experience’ !! Jenny and I watched Nicola’s sculptures fill up the “piazza”, in front of the house, with fascination . . . the three dogs were “confused” !!! and parking became a “problem” . . . ?? |
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This was a “new” Nicola ! A very different SIMBARI . . . The Paris Studio was to show us many “new” sides to this maturing artist . . . for him Paris was a ‘challenge’, exciting and demanding . . . To know of this ‘Period’ is to better understand Nicola’s “excitement” in LIFE . . . and every aspect it had to offer . . |
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More than once he has said: “My work is my reaction to all that I see. . . “ Paris was to be ‘the catalyst’ , , , the Inspiration to DARE !
“Still Life in Orange”
oil on canvas ©SIMBARI |
- - - and DARING it was !! . . . not “typical” Simbari of the earlier years !
“Torax”
A limited edition plexi-glass sculpture ©SIMBARI - - - yet the vibrant colours and the ‘humour’ remain . . . and his excitement was contagious ! |
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when I see this work, I am reminded of the beaches in Florida . . .!
“Seabreeze”
Oil on canvas ©SIMBARI |
- - - yet, the ‘magical’ Paris was never forgotten for long - - - and he was back in Rue Bonaparte, in St. Germain, at La Coupole . . . watching LIFE unfold before him . . . !
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he is telling us HIS ‘story’ . . . andsharing with us HIS ‘excitement’ . . .
“Avenue Montaigne”
Lithograph ©SIMBARI |
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OUR life had changed . . . Jenny and I took a beautiful apartment near the Eiffel Tower, and she went to school, nearby - - - becoming a true Parisienne on her moped, and speaking fluent French {which I envied !} - -
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I loved the “hustle and bustle” of the life in this incredible City . . . Rome became our “holiday home” . . . ! - - - Nicola would return here to tell his diary stories - - - painting to music in his beloved Studio ! . . . enjoying the Roman SUN and his pool . . . With short trips to Naples
and Venice- - or Circeo
or Ansedonia
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. . . . or an evening in Rome, with friends from “far-and-wide” - - - John Gavin, Anita Eckberg, David Caradine, Jerome Kilty (to name just a few!) - - - meeting in Piazza Navona or Via Veneto and going to our favourite ‘trattoria’ at that time - - -
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Time seemed to stand still !
It was a “story” and an “adventure” , , , and very EXCITING!
- - - was it a “Dream” ? - - -
© Elfrida 2010
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