I Giorni e la Notte
(The Days and Night)
September 1 - 30, 2007

Nino Quartana, an Italian painter, ceramist and stage designer who is currently based here in Manila, opens his show titled, “I Giorni E La Notte (The Days and Night)” on September 1, 2007 at Galleria Duemila in Pasay City. 

                “It is not possible to not be influenced by the artists that came before…”

                                                                                                 -Nino Quartana 

                With that statement in mind, it makes sense that Quartana plays with several artistic styles, in a way paying homage to his favorite artists that have influenced him through the years, as well as keeping himself entertained and inspired.  The influence of Goya is evident in some works, but he makes it his own.  His perspective is unique and his art fresh and playful, even when challenged by serious topics.  For example, he does a portrait of Tiziano Terzani, an Italian who lived in Asia for 30 years and wrote the book “Giai Phong- The Liberation of Saigon” which our own Ninoy Aquino had read and loved.  In Quartana’s painting, he depicts the journalist Terzani surrounded by skulls, as he had been in one of the mass burial sites of Pol Pot’s Victims in Cambodia. “We walk over the skeletons of our ancestors,” the artist states.  He also has portraits of Che Guevarra and Fidel Castro- the heroes of his youth. 

                Yet his sense of humor is evident in other works, one of which is an older piece where he tells 2 different stories in “The Night Watcher”, mixing classical and contemporary art with Caravaggio and pop- culture’s Batman.  It is an artistic play of parts where different areas of time are put together, as well as different styles and time periods.  Supposedly there is a cliché in the art world that cartoonists are the lowest of artists, but Quartana disagrees.  He believes that there are excellent cartoonists and that they too, should garner more respect.  It is all art, after, all. 

                Besides history, Nino Quartana is motivated by music, such as jazz- which makes sense, since jazz has few boundaries and what rules there are often broken or bent by the best of musicians.  The way he paints is very much like that.  A good musician is not held back or hampered by genre, and as a visual artist, he feels that he too, should not be limited in what he can “play” or how to play it.   

                Nino Quartana also does a series of works in plexiglass, with titles such as “I, stop the moments”,

One on top of each other to see the sun”, and “The Days and the Night”.   

                The running theme therefore, for this exhibit, is the element of time.   

                “Art is a time machine.”

                                                                -Nino Quartana   

                Indeed it is.  Quartana captures time, stops it, and makes it fly.  He holds it gently between his canvas and his paintbrush.   

Nino Quartana attended the Arts High School and Fine Arts University in Palermo.  His artworks have been showcased in Italy and other parts of the world since 1979.  While in Milan he worked for the Italian television network RAI realizing sceneries, theater costumes and the like.  He designed display stands for BIT (International Tourism Fair) in Milan and for other important business and art events around Italy. In Sicily he was the artistic manager of the Ceramics Atelier of “Atelier sul mare”, a unique hotel situated in Castel di Tusa, near Celafu which showcases the masterpieces of the most important international artists.  His works are still exhibited in the permanent collection of the hotel museum, “Fiumara d’Arte”. He has been a teacher of painting techniques and stagecraft in several qualifying courses funded by public and private organizations and has worked for programs funded by the European Union and Sicilian Region aimed at the rehabilitation of children at risk by means of painting, stagecraft and drama. His past works can be viewed at www.ninoquartana.com.it 

For exhibition inquiries, please call (632) 831-9990 and (632) 833-9990, or email duemila@mydestiny.net