On May 31, 2022, the exhibition "Attraverso il paesaggio: la pittura di Antonio Sansò (1909-1978)" curated by Guglielmo Sansò and Antonio Fiore, in collaboration with the Euromediterranean Cultural Heritage Agency, opens at the former Conservatory of Sant'Anna in Lecce. The vernissage takes place at 7:30 PM, and the exhibition will be open throughout the month of June.
The exhibition tells the story of the life and art of Antonio Sansò, a painter from Salento, through a thematic journey that, while not following a strict chronology, invites visitors to embark on an imaginary voyage through his memories and the landscapes he painted.
The first section, titled "A Self-Portrait", offers an intimate glimpse into the artist’s personal life through objects, sketchbooks, and memories that reflect his friendships and affections. The sketchbooks, filled with quick drawings, capture the essence of his daily work, inspired by the landscapes of Salento that he observed during his travels on the Ferrovie Sud-Est trains.
The next section, "All Around", transports visitors into a timeless world, where human figures are absent, and landscapes are depicted in a metaphysical solitude. Works like Arco di Prato (1973) and Urban Landscape (1976) feature a suspended light, while colors come to life in rural and coastal landscapes, such as the stormy sea of Tramontana Salentina and the Marina di San Foca (1976), where nature is portrayed as severe and unyielding.
A dedicated room focuses on the olive trees, symbolizing the artist’s deep-rooted connection to his homeland, a bond that Sansò powerfully expresses in his works, as if to preserve a landscape that has since been lost. The exhibition concludes with the section "Inner Landscape", showcasing the artist's most extreme works. Here, through sharp color contrasts and idealized forms, Sansò reflects on an interior vision of the landscape, reconstructing reality in a personal way, leading viewers toward an unexpected and profound conclusion.
Antonio Sansò (Gallipoli 1909 - Lecce 1978) was a painter from Salento who trained in Gallipoli and Rome. He participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout Lecce. Despite obtaining a qualification to teach artistic disciplines, he worked as an inspector for the Ferrovie Sud-Est, all while continuing to pursue his passion for painting.
Exhibition opening hours:
Monday - Friday: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Free admission.
