THE MELLERIO ROSMINI COLLEGE OF DOMODOSSOLA HOSTS THE EXHIBITION UNTIL 2 FEBRUARY 2025 “SILENT STEPS IN THE FOREST. NICOLA MAGRIN MEETS HUGO PRATT”. THE ARTWORKS OF HUGO PRATT, ONE OF THE MOST KNOWN COMICS AUTHORS IN THE WORLD, DIALOGUE WITH THE WATERCOLORS OF NICOLA MAGRIN, ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR FOR MANY GREAT AUTHORS
Is called “Silent steps in the woods. Nicola Magrin meets Hugo Pratt”the exhibition of watercolors by Nicola Magrin and original ink drawings by Pratt, illustrated by texts by Marco Steiner, writer and scholar, one of Hugo’s closest collaborators. Pratt, for those who don’t remember, is the creator of “Corto Maltese”, iconic character from the renowned comic series of the same name.
The showcase is part of the second part of the fourth edition of the Di-Se, Di-Marking the territory illustration festival. The Mellerio Rosmini College of Domodossola is hosting the exhibition until February 2nd.
“Silent steps in the woods” masterfully interweaves Nature and History, themes that have always inspired Hugo Pratt and which represent the heart of Nicola Magrin’s artistic research. The latter, fascinated by the scenarios evoked by Pratt, lets them guide his creative imagination. The result is a profound dialogue between two artists united by a unique sensitivity and an intimate spiritual connection with nature and indigenous cultures.
Marco Steiner, inspired by the harmony between the works of Pratt and Magrin, wrote “The breath of the forest”, a poetic and intense ballad. His words, full of emotion and profound meanings, masterfully evoke the poetic world of the two artists.
The exhibition itinerary
Along the exhibition route, visitors walk with a light and respectful step “bosco”, it is written in the note. Here they admire Pratt’s original inks, flanked by large reproductions of his watercolors, all created for “Wheeling”. Novel that mixes adventure and education and pays homage to the writers who influenced Pratt since childhood, such as Kenneth Roberts, James Fenimore Cooper, James Oliver Curwood and Zane Gray. “Wheeling”, started in 1962, it accompanied Pratt throughout his career, until the last drawings created in the 1990s, shortly before his death.
Nicola Magrin draws inspiration from Pratt’s novel, representing in his works the struggles between natives and settlers and the evocative landscapes of North America. His splendid watercolors enrich “Silent steps in the woods” and are alongside those created for other projects, such as the volume “Just a few more moons. Chief Seattle’s response”a true poetic hymn to Nature, and the illustrations created for “The Call of the Wild” by Jack London. These three volumes, published by Edizioni Nuageswere created by Cristina Taverna, historic gallery owner and friend of Pratt.
«I think of this book and this exhibition as a legacy of Hugo Pratt – writes Taverna -. Pratt loved bringing together people he respected, passionate about the things that fascinated him, he loved creating opportunities, indicating a path. Marco Steiner started writing for him, their passion for adventure literature inflamed them. Nicola Magrin encountered Pratt’s work early on, was immediately fascinated by it and since then has painted his papers with watercolour, giving them life. He loves the forest, the animals, the stories told by Pratt, he too is his heir.”
“To experience the forest you have to be a forest”
Installation includes large styled drop cloths “kakemono”, which immerse the viewer in the birches painted by Magrin. As Steiner writes, “to experience the forest you have to be a forest”. The exhibition is completed with two videos: a 1983 reportage by Vincenzo Mollica for Rai, which explores Pratt’s narrative places in the state of New York and a second video by Nicolò Piazza, which portrays Magrin while he paints.
