At night, you shone like stars that brightly glide,
Your love — my strength, my soul’s most precious right.
You taught me patience with each passing day,
And bore life’s burdens with unshaken grace.
Within your eyes, I found my secret place —
I’ll never forget your love’s endless ray.
When the world pressed hard upon my soul,
You opened your arms, absorbing my pain.
Though you were burning, you’d never let it show —
For me, you lived, enduring in silence again.
Oh Mother, no words could ever define,
Your love — a river that knows no end.
In my life and soul, you eternally shine,
The only true light my heart can send.
Without you, what’s left in this heart of mine?
Cold nights would burn it with silent cries.
In every storm, your prayer is enough —
Your every word, a star in my skies.
The older I grew, the more I could see:
Each breath you took was a silent sacrifice.
If now I shine like a star in the sky,
Know — my light is just your love in disguise.
Life’s trials were sharp as a sword’s cruel blade,
But you walked beside me like a gentle shade.
In heavy moments, you carried hope’s flame,
Never once saying, “Poor me,” — never in shame.
Now I stand as someone my homeland needs,
Your lessons — the foundation of my soul.
Each of my triumphs, each noble deed,
Is a gift to you, who made me whole.
You are my quiet muse in every day,
The light of truth shines deep in your gaze.
Even in dreams, may you still softly pray —
With you, life blossoms in beautiful ways.
Though fate may pave my path with stone,
The strength I bear is from your heart alone.
In my soul lives a word beyond compare —
Each work I begin starts with “Mother” there.
Turayeva Sadoqat Kahramonovna was born on March 26, 2005 in Gurlan district, Khorezm region. After graduating from school No. 23 in Gurlan district, she studied at the Academic Lyceum of Urgench State University between 2021 and 2023. Currently, she is a 2nd year student at the Faculty of Philology and Arts of Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhon Beruni.
(Young Central Asian woman in a black coat with buttons on the sleeves and a white frilly blouse, seated in a cafeteria with yellow chairs).
A NEW DAY
Dewdrops dance on leaves, in gardens nestled so deep, Softly drifting, clouds above sing lullabies in sleep. Like the scent of a tulip, sorrow lifts from the soul, While grandmas pray for peace and health, making the people whole.
Grass blades greet us warmly, heads risen in delight, Listening to the cranes returning, crying through their flight. In emerald green that charms the eyes, they reach toward the skies, Sunlight glimmers on each bud like gold in children’s eyes.
Some have lived to see these days, and some have not, it’s true, But spring still whispers words of joy that gently pass on through. From parents’ heartfelt blessings bloom joy and inner grace, And on the sky of fate we see youth’s star take its place.
With spring anew, a brand new day, forget the shadows past, Let pure intentions simmer like sumalak in the pot at last. Let kites that soar in skyward flight sweep grief from every heart, And let us share the blooms of love, together, never apart.
Welcome back, O Spring, to my land! You’ve brought such dazzling cheer, For the sixteenth time I face you, smiling with eyes so clear. How many times we’ll meet again, I do not truly know, But angels built a palace in my soul for you to glow.
Gulmira Ravshonbekova, daughter of Ruslonbek,was born on August 29, 2005, in Khiva city, Khorezm region.Currently, she is a second-year student at Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhan Beruni. She is a recipient of the “Ogahiy Scholarship” and the “Governor’s Scholarship”. Her first collection of poetry and prose, titled “Love for Enchanting Words”, has been published.She is a winner of several international, national, and regional Olympiads and competitions. Gulmira is also a member and certificate holder of the “Kyrgyz Poets and Writers Fund” of the Kyrgyz Republic. Additionally, she represents Uzbekistan in the international organization “National Human Rights and Humanitary Federation”.Her academic and literary works have been published in journals and anthologies in countries such as Germany, the USA, Turkey, Canada, India, Poland, and others.
First of all, we’re sharing the new project of young leader Muslima Olimova. The online platform Muslima Academy is a secular youth-led educational initiative empowering students with digital skills, international opportunities, and career readiness. More information here.
Disabled contributor, lyric essayist, and ALS activist Katrina Byrd suffered hurricane damage to her home and seeks support to rebuild and make ends meet while she’s getting ready to move. Whatever folks can contribute will make a real difference.
South African poet and essayist Abigail George, whom we’ve published many times, shares the fundraiser her book’s press has created for her. She’s seeking contributions for office supplies and resources to be able to serve as a speaker and advocate for others who have experienced trauma or deal with mental health issues.
Also, the Educational Bookshop in Jerusalem, a store that has the mission of peaceful dialogue and education, invites readers to donate new or gently used books (all genres) that have been meaningful to them, with a note enclosed for future readers about why the books were meaningful. (The books don’t have to be about peace or social justice or the Mideast, although they can be). Please send books here. US-based Interlink Publishing has also started a GoFundMe for the store.
Next, we have a group of young early-career UC Davis academics who hope to attend an important conference in the field of climate science, but need to privately raise cash to replace grant funds that were removed due to changing conditions in the U.S. They’ve been hosting bake sales to make up the difference.
We’re spreading the word about Claire Jones and Amaranthia Sepia and their work through Sista Creatives Rising, creating accessible virtual shows, spotlighting and giving small grants to women of color to pursue their creative dreams. They’ll host a new show this fall, tickets will be available soon, and are inviting people to donate to celebrate Juneteenth! Any donations we receive will help us support our team, speakers and tech needs such as Adobe, Xfinity Emergency Storm Wi-Fi, editing & captioning apps, accessibility support, and more!
Also, we encourage people to consider supporting the Sun Gallery, which is one of the venues hosting the Hayward (California) Lit Hop festival, co-sponsored each year by Synchronized Chaos Magazine. They’re struggling due to the loss of some important grants and facing possible closure, and we would like to give back to the places that have supported us.
Finally, we’re helping out one of the founders of the Secret Spot,a grassroots performance and visual arts collective launched by low-income artists early in their careers. The Secret Spot is temporarily taking a break while she recovers from injuries sustained in a car accident.
Now, for July’s first issue: Hold This World Loosely. These words of St. Paul from two millennia ago remind us that while there is much to embrace in the world, all is impermanent and we can only protect ourselves from suffering by holding on with a loose grasp. However, this flexibility also frees us to appreciate and create positive change.
Eva Petropoulou Lianou describes the freedom found in holding onto life with a loose hand. Yucheng Tao crafts poetry of fleeting moments, consciousness, grief, and beauty. Dustin Pickering expresses his desire to float away with his love, even down to shadows and the abyss. Jason Ryberg’s poetry evokes dreams, memory, and timelessness. Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa writes of gales of wind and emotion and the cultural wisdom embedded in a Native American dream catcher. Graciela Noemi Villaverde writes elegantly of a summer train adventure and the need to let go of some of the past to embrace the future.
Welcoming personal and societal change and growth can be a positive thing. Qobulova Gulzoda honors the forward-thinking Jadid leaders in Uzbekistan’s heritage who promoted education, science, and literacy. Gulshoda Jorabekovna Baxtiyorova offers up patriotic praise for Uzbekistan’s current presidential administration and its efforts to promote education, science, women’s rights, and athletics. Xoliqulova Husniabonu reflects on the bravery and dedication of her nation’s historical heroes. Priyanka Neogi urges people to achieve personal greatness by working hard to develop their talents and growing in their character and respect for others.
As an example of scientific research, Davlatyorova Iqbol outlines the medical causes of and treatments for hyperglycemia. Anorov Sirojiddin outlines approaches to treating urological diseases. Turning to the arts, Federico Wardal points out two films, flautist Andrea Ceccomori’s “Anita” and Joe Mantegna’s “Kamilah the Miracle Filly,” which have crossed national borders to be featured in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Italy.
Oyatillo Jabboraliev highlights the value of student exchange programs for helping young people learn life skills as well as cultural literacy. Mamatova Diyora explores ways to help students stay motivated to learn foreign languages they don’t frequently hear. Munisa Asimova reflects on the work of a caring teacher who helped her achieve her writing dreams, and Sobirjonova Rayhona also offers up a poetic tribute to a dedicated teacher. Rakhmonova Diyorakhon discusses the importance of experiential and participatory education for young people. Muslima Olimova announces the launch of her online startup which aims to help young people around the world learn the skills that will prepare them for work and also outlines the advantages of different backend programming languages.
Ibodullayeva Dilnura analyzes the effects of combining online and in-person education. Surayo Nosirova relates her experience with an environmental education project involving young people in solving today’s challenges. Odina Bahodirova highlights the role of environmental education in promoting future sustainability.
Rushana Raupova celebrates the wonder and joy children can bring to the world and her dedication to benefiting them with her life. Aytuvova Khurshida outlines the importance of integrating the latest psychology findings into children’s education.
Mario Loprete renders urban style into the gallery with concrete tributes to rap and culture. Sabina G’iyosiddinova builds upon and expands traditional Uzbek art styles in her abstract work.
Dr. Jernail S. Anand suggests a positive role for artificial intelligence in enhancing human life and promoting pro-social behavior. Tursunova Ismigul suggests strategies, including technology-based platforms, to improve access to healthcare in rural communities.
Speaking of traditional rural villages, Manik Chakraborty revels in gentle, sunny village life. Holding onto the world with a light touch does not mean giving up one’s love for one’s world, heritage or past. Maftuna Rustamova honors the creative legacy of Uzbek poet Zulfiya Khanim. Dilnura Khahhorova affirms the importance of celebrating the traditional culture of Uzbekistan while Bektosh Kenjayev honors the self-sacrificing military heroism of historical tribal leader Shiroq. Iskandarova Dilnoza affirms her Uzbek history and culture in poetry. Mickey Corrigan reflects on the complex and intriguing life of James Bond actor Ian Fleming. John Dorsey speaks in his poetry to American culture, memory, and reflection.
David Sapp expresses thoughtful wonderment and fascination for art and the natural world. Irma Kurti speaks to excitement, love, grief, the sky’s various moods, and summer breezes. John Thomas Allen offers a mystical ode to the esoteric arts. Alan Catlin probes the uncanny side of nature in his surreal poems. Joseph Ogbonna describes a road trip where tension among fellow travelers arose, then dissipated as everyone explored the calm and quiet Nigerian countryside. Saiprakash Kuntamukkala listens to an elegant rainfall. Mahbub Alam reflects on patience and how nature blooms on its own timescale. Christina Chin and Jerome Berglund exchange tan-renga lines about mowing the lawn, ants crawling, film noir, and many other topics.
Mary Bone remembers outdoor winter celebrations with friends and family. Brian Barbeito reflects on escaping a garish urban landscape by taking refuge by the sea. Don Bormon speaks to the vast natural renewal each year after the monsoon rains.
Sometimes remembrance is tinged with sorrow. Poet Hassane Ajbouh carries forth an ecstatic spiritual love through writing of his departed beloved. Mesfakus Salahin’s poetry evokes the pain of separation from a loved one amid the hot monsoon rains. Duane Vorhees writes figuratively, yet sensually, of romantic pairings of opposites and of people left longing or bereft after someone leaves. Greg Hill sends up images of fall, loss, and departure, contrasted with a lively preteen sleepover.
Paul Murgatroyd evokes death, decay, and the persistent memory of youth. J.J. Campbell speaks to aging, disillusionment, loneliness, frustration, and despair. Taylor Dibbert’s narrator reflects on the long shadow of his beloved dog’s memory. Leslie Lisbona mourns a friendship of many years that went awry after her friend’s move and some off-base comments. Mirta Liliana Ramirez remembers a person she lost by the sea they both loved. Stephanie Elendu’s short story presents three different characters grieving the deaths of school children in a Nigerian truck accident from three different perspectives.
Mykyta Ryzhykh speaks to love, physical passion, death, the extreme trauma of wartime, and the psychological violence of having to hide a big part of himself. Palestinian poet Ahmed Miqdad looks to death as a release from the extreme suffering he sees in Gaza and Eva Petropoulou Lianou interviews himabout his writing and his hopes for peace and human rights in the region. Abdulrasheed Yakubu Ladan also speaks to the human suffering in Gaza and the people’s determination to survive. Patricia Doyne lampoons Donald Trump and the state of American politics and the possibility of war. Noah Berlatsky grieves the loss of a loved one to social violence at the hands of laws and lawmakers who said they didn’t belong, reminding us of the human cost of policies.
Yuldasheva Oyshakhon reminds us to cherish our parents while we have them. Bill Tope remembers the unspoken rejection he felt after losing his father. Maja Milojkovic recollects the ways her deceased father made an impact on her life. Dan Flore writes of the lingering effects of divorce on now-adult children. Abigail George reflects on her loneliness and depression when her own mother forgot her birthday, and how she found comfort from looking to writers and the human experience.
Sayani Mukherjee speaks to feeling part of nature’s family, one of the plethora of creatures in a continually changing universe. Mohidil Sultanova evokes the joy, wonder, and community of a vibrant Uzbek street market, where she can feel the pulse of humanity interacting. Mahmudova Sevara uses cuisine as a lens to explore points of intersection between Uzbek and Korean culture. Bazarbaeva Inabat analyzes business connections between Thailand’s media and tourism industries.
Images c/o Mohidil Sultanova
Several students cover themes of cultural exchange within the field of linguistics. Hafizullayeva Kamolaxon outlines the influence of Turkish on the Uzbek language. Nigora Abdurazzakova explores cognitive development in children bilingual in Russian and Uzbek. Tojimurodova Latofat discusses ways to help speakers of Russian, Uzbek, and English remember words. Aliasqarova Muslima discusses attitudes towards regional and country dialects in the Uzbek language. Baxtiyorova Feruza’s essay deals with the role of common nouns and verbs in Uzbek and English speech. Berdiyorova Nargiza compares idiomatic expressions in English and Uzbek. Jo’rayeva Aziza explores multimodal teaching methodologies for Uzbek as a foreign language. Odilova Diyora looks into how translation strategies impact the interpretation of culturally specific terms in Uzbek. Sa’dullayeva Dilshoda highlights the role of language preservation in claiming and reclaiming culture and identity. Nasirova Xurshedabonu looks into ways to help students gain confidence in speaking foreign languages.
Sometimes we experience life as if it’s been mistranslated, as if we aren’t sure exactly what’s happening and what to make of our circumstances and senses. Mark Young writes of off-kilter scenes from daily life, observed from a distance. Iduoze Abdulhafiz escorts us through a holographic world of surreal prose. Yongbo Ma recollects a hazy dream about attempting to repair a muddy road, then adding to the confusion.
Christopher Bernard reflects on what it means to age when one never quite fit with one’s own generation.
Ben Nardolilli explores possibility and reality, human minds and our role in the universe, and suggests that we belong here. Wansoo Kim urges us to pull out of selfishness and despair and follow our consciences as guides. Nasir Aijaz perseveres in his life despite society’s many ills. Jasmina Ergasheva expresses resilience and hope for her future. Murodillayeva Mohinur reflects on her determination to rise towards her dreams even amidst obstacles.
Vo Thi Nhu Mai contributes a gentle, tender love story where a young man finally gets up the courage to embrace his first beloved. Isaac Aju crafts a hopeful, second-chance romance. Sushant Thapa’s piece celebrates friendship and art’s power to encourage the soul.
Peter Cherches contributes a humorous poem making a bold claim to its own existence. Svetlana Rostova highlights the power of words and ventures to rewrite her own story. We hope that this issue inspires and frees you to do the same in your own words and media.
Where the Warmth Comes Not from Radiators, but from People: Chorsu Awakens!
Bustling life, the lively exchange between seller and buyer, the noise of hundreds of conversations, Assalomu alaykum – the motto of everyone in this beautifully historic place.
It’s just past five in the morning. The air is still warm, touched by a cool breeze that sends a light shiver through the skin. While some people are only beginning to wake up, life at Chorsu is already in full swing. Vendors’ hands are deep in dough, while buyers clutch white plastic bags filled with fresh herbs sticking out on top, alongside warm, delicious flatbreads. This is not just a marketplace – it’s a way of life, like a massive mansion where millions of different people live together each day.
“Come here, daughter! I’ve got tasty khanym – just give it a try!” shouts a woman in a green apron and headscarf. At the same time, she gives change, places a fresh portion of food on a plate topped with onions, and manages to smile warmly and kindly.
The Uzbek bazaar Eski Juva (Chorsu) is not about buying and leaving. It’s an ancient theatre, formed over 2,000 years ago in the heart of the old city, at the crossroads of four trading streets.
Since ancient times, it has served as a convenient gathering place for merchants from many countries. Here, anyone could sell their crafts, food, clothing, and more. This tradition has been passed down through generations, which is why every tourist visiting Uzbekistan eagerly awaits their chance to visit the bazaar – to become a participant and a member of this living family. It’s a place where grandmothers argue over the price of potatoes, grandfathers discuss football and the latest news while browsing goods, girls try on dresses made of adras and atlas, and boys pick out their perfect tubeteika.
“I’m here every Saturday. Not to buy – to chat,” says Hikmat-ota, playing backgammon right on a carpet spread over the asphalt. “Chorsu is like a mini Uzbek mahalla, filled with bright colors. Everyone here belongs.”
Here, you don’t just buy food – you experience the real atmosphere of Uzbekistan. Stalls overflow with mountains of raisins and figs, rows of pahlava and nuts, spices of every shade and aroma – from the sharp scent of zira to the rich fragrance of saffron.
This bazaar is more than just a place of trade – it’s a mirror of the Uzbek soul, where every respected vendor is something of a philosopher, and every customer is not a guest, but a neighbor. Here, people know how to slow down, how to listen, and how to genuinely enjoy meeting each other.
By evening, the shopping bags are heavier, but the mood is lighter. And as the sun dips lower and the market begins to exhale after the day’s hustle, it becomes clear: Chorsu is not just a market.
It is the heartbeat of the city, its soul. It is the living memory of Tashkent, where every morning begins with a friendly shout, a hot flatbread, and the feeling that you are home.
Sultonova Mohidil, student of journalism and mass communications
Love’s cast takes off the burden of the heavy ground.
Love Lets Offered Values Exist
Love Locks Off Vices Exceedingly
Love Labels Outrightly Valued Entities
Love Locates Obvious Virtues Easily
These are the faces of L.O.V.E.
(J)
Dad Loves Me
Dad loves me because He made me Dad makes me trust him because he made my team Dad makes me strong because he made me not want Dad makes me smile because he took care of my file Dad makes me sleep well because he made me well Dad makes me work because he made me walk Dad makes me obey because he kept ‘Bad’ at bay Dad makes me pass life’s test because he made me life’s best Dad makes me read my book because he made me the nook Dad makes me a way because he made me pray Dad makes me alive because he gave me a life Dad makes me like everyone because he made love anyone Dad makes me preach because he made me teach Dad makes me modest because he made me honest Dad makes me eat because he made me fit
Bilingualism and Cognitive Development in Children: A Study of Uzbek-RussianBilinguals
Abstract: This paper investigates how bilingualism—especially Uzbek-Russian bilingualism—affects cognitive development in youngsters. Emphasizing the cognitive benefits seen in bilingual children—especially in executive functioning, memory control, metalinguistic awareness, and socio-cognitive development—it draws from present research and data gathered in Uzbekistan.
Although the advantages are clear, the article also addresses contextual issues such linguistic dominance and social attitudes. The paper underlines the need to encourage bilingual education in
multilingual cultures and urges greater study on underrepresented bilingual communities including Uzbek-Russian children.
Keywords: Bilingualism, cognitive development, executive functions, Uzbek Russian, metalinguistic awareness, theory of mind, socio-cognitive skills, Uzbekistan, language development, children.
Introduction
For decades, psychologists, linguists, and educators have been fascinated by bilingualism. Although the worldwide body of study has usually concentrated on European or North American populations, little is known about multilingual children in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan.
Given the country’s multilingual background—where Uzbek is the state language and Russian is still widely spoken— children are often reared in bilingual settings. Focusing on executive processes, working memory, theory of mind, and metalinguistic awareness, this study looks at how Uzbek-Russian multilingual influences cognitive development.
The sociolinguistic scene of Uzbekistan provides a special background for research on bilingualism. Historically influenced by Soviet policy, Russian has retained a prominent presence in education, media, and government. Despite efforts to promote Uzbek, many families continue to speak both languages at home or across generations (Abduraxmanova & Abdurayimova, 2024).
Bilingual children often get instruction in Uzbek while consuming Russian media, leading to high levels of functional bilingualism. Recent research indicates that bilingualism improves various facets of cognitive growth. Constant mental switching between languages, Bialystok (2001) claims, helps bilingual children acquire better executive functions.
These consist of improved attentional management, mental flexibility, and inhibitory control. Baart et al. (2024) discovered in a comparative research that Uzbek-Russian bilingual kids did better in audiovisual speech perception activities than their monolingual counterparts.
Bilinguals also seem to have better memory performance. Kids with two language systems grow more efficient working memory to organize and keep vocabulary and grammar from both languages (Practice in Clinical Psychology, 2024).
This backs a developing agreement that bilingualism challenges and strengthens children’s cognitive control mechanisms rather than confounding them. Often, bilingual kids have improved metalinguistic awareness—the capacity to understand the structure and application of language.
This capacity becomes especially clear in Uzbekistan, where youngsters negotiate between two grammatically distinct languages (Alimova, 2023). They learn to think about language not simply as a medium of communication but as a system of rules that might fluctuate.
Theory of mind, the understanding that others have views and viewpoints different from one’s own, is also improved in multilingual children (Kyuchukov et al., 2023).Among Uzbek Lyuli youngsters, who speak both Uzbek and Russian or Tajik, bilingualism was found to boost early development of perspective-taking and empathy.
Despite these advantages, bilingual youngsters in Uzbekistan confront problems. Some families regard Russian to be the “prestige language,” resulting to unequal development or even loss of Uzbek abilities among urban youth. Tursunova et al. (2023) caution that such changes could impair cultural identity and weaken native language ability.
Moreover, educational systems generally do not fully support balanced bilingual development. Lack of skilled teachers, inadequate bilingual materials, and cultural bias against minority languages lead to language dominance and code-switching anxiety (Miliyeva, 2023).
Recent study in locations like Tashkent and Bukhara demonstrates that multilingual youngsters often develop early literacy skills in both languages and exhibit excellent social adaptation. However, language use varies largely on parental influence, school language policy, and peer group preferences (Baart et al., 2024; Tursunova et al., 2023). For instance, in houses where both languages are equally supported, children demonstrate higher vocabulary retention and comprehension.
Uzbek-Russian bilingualism is a good case study for learning how managing two languages influences a child’s cognitive development. The benefits—ranging from higher executive functioning to better social understanding—are consistent with global research on bilingualism. However, to reap these benefits, educational policy in Uzbekistan should better foster balanced bilingualism and overcome cultural biases.
Future research should include longitudinal data and neurocognitive tests to better validate these findings in Central Asia.
References
1. Abduraxmanova, X. R., & Abdurayimova, A. I. (2024). Reflection of Uzbek-Russian bilingualism in the speech of residents of Uzbekistan. European International Journal of Pedagogics, 4(5), 61–63.
2. Alimova, M. I. (2023). The impacts of bilingualism on children’s language development. American Journal of Pedagogical and Educational Research, 12, 300–302. https://www.americanjournal.org/index.php/ajper/article/view/924
3. Baart, M., Arakelian, E., Morozov, A., & Usmanova, M. (2024). Exploring audiovisual speech perception in monolingual and bilingual children in Uzbekistan. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 239, 105808.
4. Bialystok, E. (2001). Bilingualism in development: Language, literacy, and cognition. Cambridge University Press.
5. Konnikova, M. (2013, January 22). Is bilingualism really an advantage? The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/bilingual-advantage-aging-brain
6. Kyuchukov, H., de Villiers, J., Mamurov, B. B., & Akramova, G. R. (2023). Narratives reflecting Theory of Mind among bilingual Lyuli children of Uzbekistan. Journal of Language and Cultural Education, 11(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.2478/jolace-2023-0001
7. Miliyeva, M. G. (2023). Influence of bilingualism on socio-cognitive personal development. Zien Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 1(4). https://zienjournals.com/index.php/zjssh/article/view/37658. Practice in Clinical Psychology. (2024). Cognitive abilities in monolingual and bilingual children: A comparative study in Azerbaijan Iran. Practice in Clinical Psychology, 12(3). https://jpcp.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-930-en.html
9. Tursunova, Z. F., Mamatova, D., & Sharipov, M. (2023). Bukhara’s linguistic mosaic: Unraveling bilingual dynamics. Comparative Linguistics, Translation, and Literary Studies, 1(2). https://citrus.buxdu.uz
I live in a world that I shape as I please. I do this through virtual, pictorial and sculptural movements, transferring my experiences and photographing reality through the filters of my mind. I have refined this process through years of research and experimentation.
Painting for me is my first love. An important, pure love. Creating a painting, starting from the frantic search for a concept with which I want to convey my message, this is the foundation of painting for me.
Sculpture is my lover, my artistic betrayal to painting. That voluptuous and sensual lover who inspires diverse emotions that strike forbidden chords.
I have been painting Hip Hop since the nineties. Italian and international rappers have been and are the subjects of my works. In 2021 SNOOP DOGG, a rapper who needs no introduction, published on his website with 60 million followers a portrait of him that I painted. The resulting media wave made me known to the general American public and my works were acquired by important public and private collections.
This new series of concrete sculptures has recently been giving me greater personal and professional satisfaction. How was it born? It was the result of an important investigation into my work. I was looking for that special something that I felt was missing. Looking back at my work over the last ten years, I understood that there was a certain semantic and semiotic logic “spoken” by my images, but the right support to enhance their message was not there.
Reinforced concrete, was created two thousand years ago by the Romans. It tells a thousand-year history, full of amphitheatres, bridges and roads that have conquered the ancient and modern world. Now, concrete is synonymous with modernity. Everywhere you go you find a concrete wall: modern man is in there.
From Sydney to Vancouver, from Oslo to Pretoria, this reinforced concrete is present, and it is this presence that supports writers and allows them to express themselves.
The artistic question was obvious to me: if man brought art to the streets to make it accessible to everyone, why not bring the urban into galleries and museums?
I am currently working a lot on my concrete sculptures, a series of works that have made me known to collectors in Northern Europe and the USA. For my concrete sculptures I usually use my personal clothes. During some artistic processes using plaster, resin and cement, I transform them into works of art to hang.
My memory, my DNA, my memories remain “concretized” within them, transforming the person who observes the works into a sort of postmodern archaeologist, studying them as if they were urban artefacts from a remote past. Under a layer of cement are my clothes that I have lived in. I like to think that those who look at my sculptures ask themselves questions, which they can answer by drawing on their educational, cultural and artistic experience.
There is also a series of sculptures dedicated to my clothes worn during COVID , clothes that survived the pandemic ,similar to the finds discovered in Pompeii, after the catastrophic eruption 2,000 years ago.
Sculptures capable of recounting the anguish, fear and inability of man to face an uncertain future and the restlessness of the tragedy of broken lives and destroyed economies.
In the last five years, over 600 international magazines, mostly official magazines of the most important American and Canadian universities, above all Harvard University, have welcomed my work, dedicating articles and covers to it.
