Says world famous expert of arts Francesco Gallo, who has been friends with the prime minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi for 25 years.
A lecturer of fine arts of Naples, famous expert of arts Francesco Gallo has already been visiting Armenia twice. During his one-week visit he had managed to do quite a lot. He had met with the family of Minas Avetisyan because he is planning to hold exhibitions of the pieces of Avetisyan in the large cities of Italy. He made a lecture for the students of the YSU. He also held a class with the school children by speaking about the links between the state and the art. Gallo is a great expert of fine arts (as perhaps many Italians). He is fashionable, genuine, lives in the art and for the art in his copyright articles, being released every week, in the Genaro magazine. Prior to the death of Gianni Versace he was the art advisor and friend of the well-known modeler. He is sure that in our rushing century the modern art has found its expression in high fashion. Having visited the historical spots of Armenia and having seen the recovered churches and monuments he pointed out that we often incorrectly understand the term “restoration” and we deprive the energetic replenishment from legendary ruins.
– There are several schools of restoration in the world. For example, the French school builds the continuation of the old one instead of restoring, as a result of which a completely new thing is created. And the Italian school first of all wishes to retain the monuments and buildings in their natural face. They don’t let the old buildings degrade even more. I may say that the restoration models of Armenia do not belong to any school and are quite non-cohesive. When you deal with historic-cultural monuments it is more preferable to leave the things in the forms they are. They should only be purified and not cleansed. If you don’t see the current history you become the victim of history. In Armenia there is everything – great history, art, culture and people. But I see that everything is being presented quite badly both inside the country and to the rest of the world.
– Has the understanding and imitation of beauty and fineness changed in the 21st century?
– The humanity has transcended the age of beauty. The ancient Greeks have defined the beauty with the measures and sizes, gold minting, harmony, mathematic calculations. But now we live in an age full of imbalance and chaos. And the criterion of the life is not beauty any more. The definition of the beauty and ugliness do not function any more. Who can say that Picasso has created beautiful paintings? What he had done is not beautiful but valuable for the art. In general, arts develop pretty fast and attain new forms. And we cannot find appropriate definitions for them. Now we have linguistic problems in order to define the modern art because the space of art is incomparably larger than we can imagine.
– But there is mass beauty that is always seen on TV screens and podiums.
– If you mean the show business faces then all they are the “starts,” which do not expose light. Yes, there are seen everywhere but they are already dead with their way of thinking.
– You have very good relations with couture houses. You have worked for a long time with Versace and Armani. Isn’t the fashion based on the idea of beauty?
– The fashion as industry was born in the century of capitalism when everybody was trying to produce as much as possible. And as now there is everything and the society needed theatrical shows the phenomenon of fashion was created. The main mission was to create constantly changing forms. What would make the consumer to buy a new coat and a purse, which he had already purchased last year? The only thing would be that the clothes he/she is wearing are not fashionable any more. And a new race was launched in order to create newer and more original forms. The couture houses change their products every season by trying to be as innovative as possible. And that is the reason why the fashion is always racing with the quality. How can we speak about quality if the clothes are bring changed every three months? The quality is based on durability. And in this case a question is originated. Why would I need a product, which is going to have a short life? Beauty is based on continuity and the fashion on originality. Unfortunately we should admit the fast rates offered by the fashion and try not to get degraded.
– How?
– By carrying the thought of beauty within us as a memory, dream and by replacing it with the new term “style.” I think that the “style” gives the chance to find its own “spirit.” In fact this word has a deep meaning. When recently I had to return from New York to Rome I was looking for my terminal at the airport I was just trying to find the group of people, who were comparably better and more elegantly clad. That way, I’d be able to find the Italians and my terminal. And I wasn’t mistaken. I want to say that the society also dictates styles. And the styles form mentalities as well. I have worked in the psychiatric clinic and have worked with people with mental illness. I have had interviews with them and have noticed that many of them were not able to express their views because they constantly speak of various things at the same time. There is chaos in their brains because there is no internal axis. In this confusion of life we are saved by the understanding of individual and social style. In the Italian language the words clothes and customs have the same roots and the secret of style is right in between. The style is our individual and national essence, which gives us recognition especially in this disharmonic period.
– How will you explain the style of Yerevan?
– Taken separately the streets, parks and squares are very pretty. But if we speak about decorations and delivery of beauty then it becomes clear that Yerevan doesn’t have a complete and profound style. For example, when I was at Minas’s home I noticed that it was very beautiful and unique but when I stepped on the staircase I realized that it’s terrible because there is no natural light and the walls of the entrance were half-broken. And the door of the House of Journalists (where your office is located) doesn’t even have a knob. It is broken. And when speaking of cultural nuances I meant exactly this. We may fail many great activities if we don’t pay attention to details. The buildings and yards are left without care and attention. I have noticed that there are many stores and shops with foreign labels and billboards. Of course there is supply but it is impossible to form styles by only importing large variety of goods. People must learn to make a choice and attain immunity through beauty. The culture is based on the education on seeing and noticing beauty.
– In Armenia the traces of culture are not seen in the lifestyles of current citizens and in the city culture. You speak with admiration about the image of Yervand Kochar but a few people are familiar with his pieces. If you have noticed garbage is accumulated even near magnificent churches. What is the reason of that?
– In fact the main reason is the absence of communication. The culture should always communicate with people and create a desire to constantly touch and communicate with the art and history. As a matter of fact, the basis of everything is the wish. If there is no wish there can be no communication either. I can say that culture resembles agriculture very much. You should cultivate the land, plant trees and then wait for a long while to see the first harvest. The thought is being regulated just like the land. Very often it seems to us that the state is a political field but the state is first of all the people and their wishes. The politics cannot be good or bad. It is always the same and only people are different. And in the process of friendly relations you see the philosophy of people, their demand and even the code. In order to increase the love of people to arts there should be as many cultural organizations created as possible. And when the state is weak and powerless those organizations start to play roles. It resembles the functioning of the human organism. When some organ is harmed the other organs start to function more intensively.
– How is the process of coding the culture start?
– The culture as well as morality starts from details. By paying attention to small details great things may be created. Let us not forget that it is the details that grant us happiness. In the 4th century BC the first treatise on ethics was written in Italy, which thoroughly told how a table should be laid. This book was called “Rules” (canons) and this is how this word was originated. Laws should be written only at the time when people signify them and are ready to follow them. And this happens only when people start to pay attention to details. And in the process of this the elite is being formed, which thrives the society.
– What if there are few or none noble people?
– If there are a few aristocrats in the society then wealthy people occupy the role of the dominant. For these people the beauty doesn’t serve as a compass. Is it so in Armenia?
– Perhaps yes.
– Being noble implies being liable to your own person and the society. Nobility is noticed everywhere – manners, gestures, attitude and behavior. The message of the elite must be heard from high positions. The noble person is always ready to disseminate his/her idea of life with others. It is no accident that the aristocrats, who are considered the elite of the nation, have always been people, who spread important messages. They unite people and direct to the common good. If we speak in the language of fashion then the most difficult thing is the selection of shoes. Clothes may be altered with various accessories and details but it is impossible to do so with shoes. When you meet a person clad fashionably and with dressed hair but wearing bad shoes then this person in not an aristocrat. And vice versa you may wear very simple and inexpensive clothes but wear good shoes and by that you may be noticed. Thus you show your essence.
– For a long time you have been busy with the history of the knights of Malta order. Will you tell us about that?
– The order of Malta, which occupies only four chambers of the island, is an autonomous state, which had been formulated after the first campaign of crusaders. The order has its centennial history, traditions and symbolism. And even now it functions and prepares knights. As you see there is always the need of knights (laughs – N.H.). By the way, with the efforts of these Maltese knights the attacks of the Turks were precluded. Due to their efforts the Turks didn’t reach Europe and reach Vienna. Besides the cavalry the members of the order included doctors, who provided free medical care to the wounded knights. They also supported the construction of schools, hospitals and universities. The knights of Malta are people of indescribable strength and good spirit. They are also extremely rich, who have everything even personal jets. The order is one of the greatest legends of the current world, which has a 900-year old history. And I would like to introduce Armenia to the history of the order. I may even support the opening of the Embassy of the Maltese Order in Armenia.
– Is it possible to become a knight now?
– Yes, of course. But there are extremely strict rules. Recommendations letters are needed. The main conditions are to be honest, ride a horse, etc. And then you should wait until the Pope of Rome gives his consent because the order of Malta is in the control of Vatican.
– Being the closest friend of the prime minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi what do you think about the freedom of the Italian media? Isn’t he a wealthy media magnate?
– The Italian media is free. If the Italian newspapers have any interests then they are only commercial. I my say that Berlusconi is criticized the most by the newspapers and media channels belonging to him. I don’t see any contradiction with this. I have been friends with Berlusconi for 25 years now and I can tell you a lot about him. The reality is that although almost all the Italians have a bad opinion about him but everybody votes for him because they see that he has done a lot for the economy of Italy. There is almost no unemployment in Italy. If you now visit Aquila, which was hit a strong earthquake at the beginning of this year and the city was fully destroyed, then you will see that half of the buildings have already been restored. Several months after the disaster the people have received from the government restored and furnished apartments with fridges full of food. On the welcome day everybody had a holiday table and sparkling wine. There has been nothing like this in the history of Italy. Berlusconi has also given a new breath to Genoa city, which had long ago been converted into a deserted harbor but now a miracle is taking place there. Vehicle production is developing pretty fast.
– Ferrari, Lamborghini have long ago stopped being only cars. They are also styles.
– You have forgotten to mention Bugatti and Maserati (laughs – N.H.). The fashion also developed furniture production and now the Italian furniture is an international trend.
– When buying art pieces does the collector think about successful investment or just for fun?
– Every good collection starts from fun and pleasure. Only then it becomes a good investment. For example, when years ago I was collecting canvasses I bought a painting at 7 thousand Euros, which I liked very much. Now this canvass costs several million Euros. When I was buying it I wouldn’t think about the price. If you decide to have collection, do not calculate the price in the future. Try to buy something that you really like. The art should bring artistic pleasure and joy.
– Is it true that a person, who dresses well, always has good thoughts and ideas?
– It is undoubtedly so. When the person starts to feel that he is not poor, ignorant and shallow person he immediately focuses on art by trying to obtain some painting or sculpture or starts to attend theaters and exhibitions. Only a person, who has a free soul, can see the beauty. The pressured person cannot see that.
– What would you say to Armenians as a beautiful message?
– The culture consists of our knowledge, understanding and education. Let us recall the words of Socrates, “All I know is that I know nothing.” The culture is followed by those same words. The skeptics think that we are in the phase of decrease of culture by forgetting that the current culture is based on the thoughts of Socrates and the world should be newly revealed day by day.
– Perhaps you have mentioned that our young people are not very eager to learn new things.
– I always tell the students not to ever be afraid of expressing a contrasting opinion. There is nothing in this world as good or bad, which is mine. So it’s more profitable to listen to the versions of others and try to learn something new from others. Before criticizing, people should try to apprehend. Each of us should know that all we take to the other world is our memories and impressions. And the development is right in the accumulation of impressions. For example, I am leaving Armenia with very warm and wealthy memories.