Engraved
In this series I want to show a special place hidden in the centre of Milan. I have been many times to Milan, but only in one of the last times I have discovered this place, which is the “Centro dell'incisione Alzaia Naviglio Grande”. It is a museum and school of engraving (in particular etching). Gigi Pedroli, i.e. the man with the hat, founded, together with his wife, this place more than 40 years ago. He is an engraver, sculptor, ceramist, painter, draftsman but also musician and songwriter. Despite all of that, in the time I spent with him, he has never mentioned any of this. He was keeping talking about the “acquaforte” (etching), the history of this technique, while in the meantime he was continuing teaching his students. In this sense I can define him as a real “Maestro”, whose only aim is to preserve the art of etching, by passing it down to other people sharing the same passion. This place is unique and it became over the years a reference point for artists and people passionate about arts in general. The history of this place is inevitably closely linked to the history of Gigi Pedroli, and both have become parts of the history of the Navigli and so Milan.
