Vincenzo Balsamo               The last stroke of the the abstract giants era...

By Jayson Meynard

 

 

Photo: Young Balsamo in Rome. His first trip to the capital of the world of arts.

How sweet success is. But, it comes with a heavy price; doubt, fear, perseverance, rejection, incertitude, years of hard work, desperation, immense talent, innovative creativity, competition, persistence, stubborn determination and self-confidence. Maestro Vincenzo Balsamo is a living example of the difficult and sweet moments in the life of a great artist. Balsamo Vincenzo was born in Brindisi, Italy, in 1935. Today, he lives in Verona. He toured the globe and was received as a living legend. He had his ups and downs, highs and lows, but never gave up. He left his hometown on a train heading toward Rome, the capital of the art world. He went alone, unknown with a few Liras in his pocket. In a sense, his trip to Rome is not quite different from the conquest of Ulyssis.  He had to prove himself to the toughest critics and most demanding high society of the Immortal City. The competition was unmerciful. Rome was saturated with world-class artists and the most famous painters of the era. The young Balsamo had to fight all odds. Alone, without a "letter of recommendation" or "introduction from a powerful insider" of the challenging, shrewd, delightful and canning world of art and all its glitzy, vain and arrogant galleries. He had to make it in one way or another. Many times, the young and talented Balsamo, the perfect stranger in Rome  had his doubts and fears, for an uncertain future laid ahead. But, he knew deep in his heart, the Brindisi kid had all the ingredients of a future "grand" artist.

My visit with Balsamo will take us back in time to the early days of the "genius of Brindisi". Balsamo talked to us with warmth, candor and friendly wisdom. He shed lights on the difficult moments in the life of an aspiring talented artist. Lessons, we learned from his past experiences. Rays of hope shined through his smile, deep thinking and honest answers. I would be delighted to share with you, my brief visit to the magical but truthful lands of Balsamo, his reflections on life and the art business... Today, Vincenzo Balsamo is a living legend; one of the few and last remaining great artists of the divine and sublime dawn of abstract and cubism cosmos.

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