Sleeping Stones - Caves of Maurizio

Maurizio Becherini (1859 - 1932)

In 1918, this barber and tailor decides to live like a hermit in the Forra forest, located a few kilometers away from Gambassi, his Tuscan native village. In a little more than six years (until his death), he builds his own Jerusalem: he puts together footbridges, he sculpts the walls of the cave where he sleeps, he embellishes it with a few statues, some self-made and others acquired, he builds an altar in the relief and a little chapel surrounded by faces, he erects statues of saints (notably those of the Redeemer and of St Peters). He uses concrete, chicken coop wire netting as frame, stones and shells to form the head, buttons for the eyes, large bicycle sprockets for the halos. During the numerous pilgrimages taking place in the 20's, photographs of the place and of the creator were taken and became postcards. After the death of the hermit, some works went missing, while others were damaged by the bad weather and by the forest. Today, we are only left with a few evocative traces destined to disappear.

Indigenous People of Colombia - Shamanism / Worship of the Dead

1. Two Goajiro musicians, one blowing in a deer skull and the other in a flute.

2. Goajiro man sniffing the Yopo (Anadenanthera peregrina).

3. The Goajiro sorcerer isn't afraid by the scolopendra (centipede) poison.

4. The "Kabayana" (shaman) infuses his strenght for a sick.

5. The Kabayana wave his magical leaves bouquet for a sick woman.

6. The fetishes of Kabayana are placed above the altar before which he officiates.

7. Group of Indians surrounding the old priest sorcerer leaning on a stick.

8. Designated by the sorcerer, a woman prepares the "chicha" (a kind of maize beer) which will serve for its intervention with the spirits or "Kay".

9. Páez Indians of Tierra Adentro. Funeral wake.

10. Opogadó, Middle Atrato region. In the absence of a next of kin male, the bones of a dead unearthed at a previous party are wrapped and placed on a branches shelf sheltered under a small roof sheets.

11. A Catio man dig the vault side of the burial pit on the ground.

12. Arhuak village

13. Stone statue. Tierra Adentro region.

14. Prehistoric statue. Tierra Adentro region.

Suspended in Void

These ligurian ex-votos which illustrate people miraculously survived the fall are created as a personal expression of thanks and a public testimony to faith and gratitude to the Virgin Mary, always present at the scene of the accident.

1. A bricklayer falls from the roof. September 3, 1898. Genoa-Sestri, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora Virgo Potens. Oil on canvas, cm 55x33.

2. A bricklayer falls from the roof. September 3, 1898 (particular).

3. A worker falls from scaffolding while working on the construction of an electrical substation. May 3, 1913 (particular).

4. A worker falls from scaffolding while working on the construction of an electrical substation. May 3, 1913. Genoa-Voltri, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Grazie. Oil on canvas, cm 60x40.

5. Man falls from balcony. October 15, 1874. Ceranesi, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Guardia. Oil on canvas.

6. Man falls from balcony (another version). Genoa, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Monte. Oil on canvas, cm 50x40.

7. Man falls from balcony. March 24, 1929 (particular). Genoa-Sestri, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia sul monte Gazzo.

8. Man falls from balcony. March 24, 1929. Genoa-Sestri, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia sul monte Gazzo. Oil on glass, cm 43x34.

9. Child falls from a window. Nineteenth century. Megli, Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Oil on canvas, cm 30x35.

10. Worker falls from a window. September 27, 1928. Genoa, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Monte. Tempera on cardboard, cm 50x36.

11. A little girl falls from seventh floor, landing in a basket of vegetables. July 14, 1879. Genoa, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Monte. Oil on canvas, cm 39x34.

12. Man falls from tree. Eighteenth century. Megli, Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Oil on board, cm 25x22.

13. Man falls from a ladder. January 23, 1875. Genoa-Sestri, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia sul monte Gazzo. Oil on board, cm 38x49 (particular).

14. Man falls from a ladder. January 23, 1875. Genoa-Sestri, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia sul monte Gazzo. Oil on board, cm 38x49.

15. Two children falling from a tree. February 13, 1892. Genoa-Sestri, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora Virgo Potens. Oil on paper on canvas, cm 34x42.

16. A man falls into a mill. September 28, 1888. Millesimo, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Deserto. Oil on canvas, cm 41x29.

17. Two brothers falling into the water-wheel. August 25, 1885. Ceranesi, Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Guardia. Oil on board, cm 40x30.

Dreamtime - Australian Aboriginal Paintings

1. Timmy Payungka Tjapangati - Possum Dreaming for Children, 1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 60 x 50 cm.

2. Walter Tjampitjinpa - Wild Potato story, 1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 64 x 54,5 cm.

3. Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri - Yala (Wild Potato) Dreaming, 1971 - acrylic on hardboard, 54,5 x 46 cm.

4. Shorty Lungkata Tjungurrayi - Children's Water Dreaming (Version 2), 1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 61 x 44 cm.

5. Anatjari Tjakamarra - Big Pintupi Dreaming ceremony, 1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 51,5 x 43,3 cm.

6. Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri - Travelling Honey Ant Dreaming (Version 7), 1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 45,5 x 30,5 cm.

7. Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri - Yam Spirit Dreaming, 1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 70 x 54 cm.

8. Uta Uta Tjangala - Women's Dreaming, 1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 45 x 37 cm.

9. John Tjakamarra - No title, 1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 66 x 47 cm.

10. John Tjakamarra - Men and Women, 1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 71 x 51 cm.

11. Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi - No title, 1971-1972 - acrylic on hardboard, 73 x 51 cm.

12. Nosepeg Tjupurrula - Three ceremonial poles, 1971 - acrylic on hardboard, 56,2 x 70 cm.