San Sperate's 'Paese Museo' celebrates 50 years of murals
In 1968, Pinuccio Sciola, a sculptor from Sardinia, returned to his hometown of San Sperate and initiated the creation of the town's first murals during the Corpus Domini festival by applying lime to mud walls, focusing on themes of anthropology and politics. This endeavor garnered media attention, leading to San Sperate being labeled 'Paese Museo.' To mark the 50th anniversary in 2018, the municipality hosted festivals, workshops, conferences, and added new murals to the existing collection of 500. Early advocates included artists from Sardinia and notable figures from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Mexico. In 1973, Sciola was invited by UNESCO to Mexico, where he met David Alfaro Siqueiros. Mayor Enrico Collu highlighted the anniversary as an opportunity for renewal.
Key facts
- Pinuccio Sciola returned to San Sperate in 1968 after travels in Spain, France, and Austria.
- The first murals were created during the Corpus Domini festival by covering mud walls with lime.
- San Sperate was dubbed 'Paese Museo' by Italian and international press.
- In 2018, the municipality celebrates the 50th anniversary with festivals, conferences, workshops, and new murals.
- Over 500 murals already exist in the town.
- Early muralists included Foiso Fois, Liliana Cano, Gaetano Brundu, Giovanni Thermes, Giorgio Princivalle, Nando Pintus, Franco Putzolu, and international artists from Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Mexico.
- In 1973, UNESCO invited Sciola to Mexico, where he met David Alfaro Siqueiros and twinned San Sperate with Tepito, Mexico City.
- Events include a mural on Via Cagliari by Angelo Pilloni, restoration by Pilloni and Archimede Scarpa, a seminar on raw earth architecture, and the EXE residency curated by Noarte.
Entities
Artists
- Pinuccio Sciola
- Foiso Fois
- Liliana Cano
- Gaetano Brundu
- Giovanni Thermes
- Giorgio Princivalle
- Nando Pintus
- Franco Putzolu
- Rainer Pfnürr
- Elke Reuter
- Meiner Jansen
- Otto Melcher
- José Zuniga
- Conrado Dominguez
- David Alfaro Siqueiros
- Angelo Pilloni
- Archimede Scarpa
- Enrico Collu
Institutions
- UNESCO
- Art&venti
- Associazione della Terra cruda
- Unione dei comuni del Basso Campidano
- Noarte
- Comune di San Sperate
Locations
- San Sperate
- Sardinia
- Italy
- Spain
- France
- Austria
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- Mexico
- Mexico City
- Tepito
- Via Cagliari
- Cagliari