I have always felt a strong sense of respect and belonging towards Franco Battiato: when I listen to his songs, especially those where he tells about his childhood, I see myself as a child again. It is the same Sicily, my Sicily. Those feelings, visions, smells, sounds, atmosphere. When an artist touches you deep inside as Franco Battiato does, like it or not, they establish a strong connection with the listener. Tome, another fascinating aspect of the great master from Etna is tthe ability to dwell on spiritual issues, his unique way to disengage from wordly matters and focus on trascendent themes. Painting this mural now
that I am fifty, making this triple portrait about his three ages of life is a fundamental step, a honour. I have tried to pay homage to him with this painting about his childhood, spent here, running around these alleys, overlooking this amazing sea that he keeps on gazing into; about his second age, in the 80’s, when he became popular with the general public; about his old age, half-smiling wisely as he used to do, looking back on himself but also on Riposto, on our Sicily and on his ocean of silence.