To live in Salento, even for a short time, means immersing oneself in a special environment, rich with meanings related to the earth, air and water; all this geographically connected to the Finibus Terrae (currently S. Maria di Leuca, but formerly, Otranto). These lands, considered unfertile and dry, are the fortunate synthesis of a cultural and naturalistic enrichment to which the early pilgrims, travelling along the Holy Land-Rome-Santiago de Compostella route, contributed. This enrichment today is evidenced by the those signs of intense mystical-religiosity which the pilgrims ‘donated’, as though designating us the trustees of this cultural richness, which, when it is not ransacked, often still remains neglected.

I have worked and travelled a lot, with visions of Salento in my head which called for and imposed their exploitation. While involved in creation and in making art, their compelling attraction transformed itself within me, into a sense of responsibility: the urge to intervene, by using and making available acquaintances and contacts forged through time, in order to call attention to the existing cultural signs and to create new ones (through the stones, "ri-segni"). Thanks to the sensitiveness of the municipal administration of Cannole and the Pro Loco Cerceto I was able to concretize the idea of gathering, within a restricted area (a provincial town) sculptors who would geographically discover Salento only through an event of this nature. Ten artists have come especially from Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Canada... to sculpt our "pietra leccese".

In Cannole, in 2001, the first International Sculpture Symposium in "Pietra Leccese" has become a reality.

During these two weeks sculptures of substantial dimensions will be produced; the artists will freely make their mark in stone; the sculptures will express their value over time and will become a municipal heritage which is the fruit of public participation.

I have proposed an initiative at the international level and I will also contribute to its fulfillment as an artist: why?

The desired result, which will justify my commitment, can be summarized as the mutual exchange of signs as cultural testimony. As we know, artists always leave something of themselves in their work; they will carry in their memory the signs of our region (ancient olive trees, dry-stone walls, dolmen and menhir... our landscape).

A personal enrichment for me is the workshop atmosphere which is created among the artists, among the public and curious onlookers, and the memory of the words spoken in different languages...

On a personal level, re-rooting myself in Salento signifies bringing an international contribution to the region. The symposium in Cannole is a good beginning.