Il Pescatore

The fisherboy of Portobello

The Bay of Portobello is certainly a rare gem in the as enchanting landscape of the Ligurian Riviera. Naturalistic, architectural beauties and taste of tradition merge into a really unique harmony. You might think that nothing is missing to make it perfect and, in fact, a lot of people think that just nothing should be added or removed to preserve the image.
But Leonardo Lustig’s proposal immediately suggested to us that his Pescatore (fisherboy) could be a new presence capable of echoing, in its harmonious simplicity, all that the Bay already and always tells dwellers who live it and visitors who admire it.
A presence which almost mingle with the life that goes on in the Bay, but, at the same time, a figure that fascinates as though it came from a fairy tale.
We are sure that tourists will have one more reason to visit our Town and the Bay and we are equally certain that the inhabitants of Sestri Levante will consider this new ‘guest’ like a son of their own traditions, made up of sea, work… but also of fairy tales.
We are most grateful to the Artist who was able to capture this spirit and wanted to return it to us with his Pescatore.
We are also grateful to Mr Gianfranco Traverso who promoted and supported the writing of this beautiful page of art and culture in the history of Sestri Levante.
Thanks to Mr Massimo Solari who, with his tireless love for Sestri Levante, has encouraged this nice meeting.

2013, Valentina Ghio (The mayor of Sestri Levante)

La Baia della meraviglia – L’Arte incontra il mare

The Bay of the wonder – Art meets the sea

Introduction

I welcomed with great satisfaction the news of the placing of the sculpture Pescatore, work of the artist Leonardo Lustig, at the “Baia di Portobello” (Bay of Portobello), in Sestri Levante.
This happy event sees several actors as main characters, all of them united in the common purpose of achieving an installation of particular efficacy, which enables us to appreciate, in a special way, a very impressive work of art.
It is a bronze sculpture, where the severe figure proportion and the essentiality of the gesture incarnate with sobriety one of the most traditional Ligurian expressions, as a foundation of our tradition and history. This witnesses the quality of an artist such as Lustig who, following his own path to develop an artistic language, did not deny but rather sublimated the classic requirements in order to achieve accomplished harmonies of proportion.
The generosity of Gianfranco Traverso who, besides being a fine connoisseur and careful collector, turned out to be a person sensitive to sharing involvement and collective enjoyment, will enable the inhabitants of Sestri Levante and the several tourists who crowd this beautiful resort to enjoy this work which, in this precise context, finds its ideal location.
Finally, the Mayor Valentina Ghio and Massimo Solari, keen local promoter, who both contributed to the fact that the proposal could find a happy landing…
Therefore, I renew my heartfelt thanks to all those who contributed to this important
realization, an example of a virtuous game of both personal and public forces whose happy outcome will allow an accurate artistic, cultural and touristic appreciation. All this with an additional keen eye to those processes of fantastic suggestion which capture the most sensitive part of everyone and which seldom find such a successful expression.

2013, Angelo Berlangieri (Councillor responsible for Tourism, Culture and Entertainment of Liguria)