Igor Scalisi Palminteri is an eclectic artist from Palermo who uses different means and visual languages to express his art: painting, sculpture, photography, video. He graduated in Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts of Palermo and after that held many exhibitions with his artworks, both in Italy and abroad. he often plans labs and workshops, especially with kids. He is also socially committed and works with art therapy. He was the very first artist to start the wall paintings project in the "Albergheria" district in Palermo. He had realised a an exceptional "San Benedetto il Moro" (St. Benedict the Moor) on the occasion of the 11th edition of "Mediterraneo antirazzista" (anti-racist Mediterranean). Later, he was encouraged by the local people and decided to get other artists involved to make other wall paintings in the same area. To know more about this exceptional project, here is the article Cinque artisti e cinque murales per l'Albergheria di Palermo (Five artists and five wall paintings for the Albergheria of Palermo).
The wall painting of St. Benedict the Moor
Always keeping an eye on the current news - that he reinterprets through his unique artistic sensitivity - Igor made another wall painting in the summer of 2019. This time, the subject is Saint Erasmus, who wears a life jacket and holds two oars. The reference here is clear, and that's to the dramatic reality lived by all immigrants, who choose to cross the Mediterranean sea in search of a better life, and often die during the journey. The artist calls everybody to action, reminding us that all questions are pointless "in a moment where it's important to make a stand instead".
The wall painting of Saint Erasmus
There are a few constant element in his production, each marking the evolution of his artistic path. The relationship with his mother, whom he lost when he was 25 years old, is one of them. While learning to live with the loss, his research brought him to go beyond the limits of the visible, mixing childhood memories and imagination. These elements result into a candid and curious look, like that of a child, and are also at the center of another one of the artist's recurrent themes: the sacred and the saints. On one hand in fact, saints are represented as simple human being, on the other, through his childlike approach which takes inspiration from comics, they become superheroes, with masks and colourful capes.
On the background, always present, an analysis which focuses on human nature and identity.