Platform_Architecture_and_Design_1.pdf

ARTEFACTS
97
Francesco Camillo Giorgino, stage name Millo, is an Italian
Street Artist appreciated world-wide and recognizable by
his unique style. His works show vibrant cities inhabited by
characters that look like their author, but that as he says,
“might just as well be a dog, a plant or a robot.”
The metropolis is Millo’s kingdom, both inside and outside
his works, since Francesco fills the grey walls of our suburbs
with the buildings and streets that his world is teeming with.
Like with Chinese boxes, his cities reveal themselves inside ours
to tell us their stories, always different and always full of emotions
and feelings, even when they are at odds with each other.
Millo has recently finished a massive project, in which the
Turin Contrada Foundation commissioned him to create his
works on a good 13 facades and walls, literally changing the
face to one of the most deprived areas of Turin.
Let’s start at the beginning: tell us how you came to be
involved in the world of art.
I’ve always drawn, ever since I was a child. At first, it was my
favourite hobby, then a passion, and then at a certain point
in my life art took precedence over everything else and it
became impossible to ignore it.
You are an architect and it’s not by chance that
buildings and cities appear in a lot of your work. In
what way does architecture influence what you do?
Yes, I studied architecture and undoubtedly this experience
has influenced the course of my career. I’m convinced that
architecture, genuine architecture is 100% made up of art
and technology; let’s say that I’ve been freely inspired by the
former.
We know that you have also approached the world of
design thanks to a site-specific performance, created
with polyethylene containers during the 4 days of the
Fuorisalone. Tell us how it went.
Well, it happened by chance and it was a really interesting
challenge. I’ve always had a soft spot for unusual media and
moving from walls or canvases to polyethylene was really
fun, especially because I had to rack my brains to make sure
that the designs stayed in the right place…it’s a material
that really doesn’t like to be drawn on. Also, during the
Fuorisalone there’s a positive energy which made even the
act of presenting the work a pleasing meeting with other likeminded
people.
You’ve just finished another marvellous project created
in Turin, this time more precisely in the Barriera
neighbourhood. How did that venture come about?
B.ART, Arte in Barriera, was a project strongly supported by
the city of Turin which issued an international tender for the
redevelopment of 13 large blank walls in the Barriera di Milano
neighbourhood, backed by funds from the European Community.
I was judged the winner and so for the last few months I’ve been
drawing suspended several metres above the ground!
Is there a common thread that links all 13 walls?
Yes, and it’s not just the theme that I wanted to give to the
13 walls but more in general the underlying theme of my
research, that is, Habitat intended as a place where modern
man lives, where he carries out his actions and in which he
interacts with his contemporaries. There’s no real narrative
that links the 13 works, rather they are more like 13 stages, 13
events that are clearly recognizable thanks to the use of the
same language and the same subjects in all the walls.
How does it feel to know that your art has kicked off the
redevelopment of an area that certainly does not enjoy a
good reputation, such as the Barriera?
A great sense of accomplishment. Working in the Barriera
was truly inspiring. Every day hundreds of people passed
under my work cage: some to say hello, some to have a
quick look, some just going to work. Often these people
were not Italian, some had almond-shaped eyes, a Moroccan
accent and offered Rumanian hospitality. Barrier is a large
suburban district that has a little world within it. Realizing
that my work has come to be seen by most of its inhabitants
regardless of their country of origin, is a feeling I can’t put
into words.
Ph. Cristina Bigliatti
LEFT: Ph. Alice Masseno, Torino IT