Ruggero Facchin
Heads: A Search for Identity
In the Heads series, Facchin reinterprets the Renaissance humanist Paolo Giovio’s collection of portraits of illustrious men, guiding us through an exploration of identity. He portrays both historical figures from literature, music, and philosophy—those who have deeply influenced him—as well as fictional characters that resonate instinctively with his emotions. His expressive approach brings forth their uniqueness and irreproducibility.
The undefined gaze in these portraits alludes to an inner vision, capable of revealing hidden truths. These figures, too, serve as messengers, oracles, and guardians, vibrating in dissonance and urging us to undertake a profound, arduous search for balance between reason and instinct. The raw energy of the physical act of painting is evident, sealing the union of these two dimensions. Painting, free from ideological mediation, becomes a pure, instinctive act—an unfiltered revelation of the artist’s truth, which, in turn, strips bare the observer.
Federica Viola