Massimo Ielasi's Passionate Gallery on Ischia

On the island of Ischia, Massimo Ielasi, a gallerist, operates a non-profit gallery in his free time, showcasing thought-provoking exhibitions that blend renowned international artists with local creatives. In his 2008 publication, he posited that Ischia's Aragonese Castle served as inspiration for Arnold Böcklin's "Die Toteninsel," a theory later supported by scholar Hans Holenweg. Ielasi's gallery has presented works by notable figures such as Andy Warhol, Sebastião Salgado, and Tina Modotti, alongside local artists like Michele Petroni, Aniellantonio Mascolo, and Luigi De Angelis, to whom he wrote a memoir. Gallery openings resemble village celebrations, attracting hundreds beneath the castle. For the Christmas season, Ielasi intends to exhibit 18th-century Sicilian fixé sous verre paintings. Currently, a sleeping Benino figure from the Neapolitan nativity tradition symbolizes Ielasi's dreamlike commitment.