When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

Already a subscriber? Log in .

You've reached your limit of one free article.

Get unlimited access to Worldcrunch

You can cancel anytime .

SUBSCRIBERS BENEFITS

Exclusive International news coverage

Ad-free experience NEW

Weekly digital Magazine NEW

9 daily & weekly Newsletters

Access to Worldcrunch archives

Free trial

30-days free access, then $2.90
per month.

Annual Access BEST VALUE

$19.90 per year, save $14.90 compared to monthly billing.save $14.90.

Subscribe to Worldcrunch
eyes on the U.S.

In Pisa, Keith Haring’s Last Great Work Is Fading Fast

In Pisa, Keith Haring’s Last Great Work Is Fading Fast

Local culture officials and friends of the artist debate restoration of a giant mural painted just before Haring's death.

Detail (and postcard) of Tuttomondo in Pisa (zak mc)

PISA - Keith Haring, who died in 1990, was an American ‘writer" of a different sort. The most important graffiti artist to emerge from New York's 1980s pop art scene, Haring created the indelible "colored little men," stylized and asexual symbols of peace and brotherhood on canvasses and murals around the world.

But now in Pisa, which has its own leaning cultural symbol for the ages, the final great project Haring completed before his death risks fading away. "Tuttomondo," the giant mural created by Haring in Pisa just months before he died of AIDS, is suffering the effects of time and weathering. The 30 colorful figures that compose the piece seem to have lost their original vibrancy.

But here in the shadow of the Leaning Tower, where one evokes Tuscan battles of the past between Guelphs and Ghibellines, art is always a game played for keeps. And so opposing factions have formed: some argue that the (omini) "little men" need to promptly be repainted to return them to their old brilliance, while others prefer to leave the work as it is, to honor the interaction between art and environment.

The debate was triggered by an article in the local paper "Il Tirreno" that used ‘before-and-after" photos to show how the colors had been transformed: the bright red fallen to a lighter pink and the blue now a noticeably paler hue. Piergiorgio Castellani, who knew Haring in the East Village of New York, convinced him to come to Pisa to realize his greatest work. "It was not a good time because Keith was already sick with AIDS," he said. "But it was nevertheless exciting to see him do it with the help of students and craftsmen. It's a piece that is somehow the sum of all of his previous work."

Moreover, "Tuttomondo" has its own a unique local history: the mural is located on the outer wall of a building owned by the Catholic Church, a rare opportunity of freedom for a gay, HIV-positive man to express himself in such a setting.

As for its preservation, Castellani recalls the artist's wish: "When choosing colors from the palate, Keith opted for these basic ones, saying that in the future, touching up the figures would be much easier."

It would be a different kind of legacy for the artist, but for now the city of Pisa appears skeptical of the idea of intervening now. They are delaying any decision until an agreement is in place with the foundation that owns the rights to Haring's works. "The mural is being monitored regularly by the experts, and according to their opinions we believe that the state of deterioration does not require immediate action," said Silvia Panichi, Pisa's local councilor in charge of culture "Are the colors fading? Yes. That is a fact of nature, but taking action would be dangerous and risk damaging a work that was designed to interact and age with its' environment."

The administration of Pisa, meanwhile, has backed a proposal to submit a request to the Los Angeles-based Friends of Heritage Preservation to finance a long term conservation plan. "We are waiting for a response," says Panichi. "After more than 20 years, we are entering a critical phase: we know that sooner or later you will need some intervention, but perhaps this is still not the moment."

Read the original article in Italian

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

A Profound And Simple Reason That Negotiations Are Not An Option For Ukraine

The escalation of war in the Middle East and the stagnation of the Ukrainian counteroffensive have left many leaders in the West, who once supported Ukraine unequivocally, to look toward ceasefire talks with Russia. For Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza, Piotr Andrusieczko argues that Ukraine simply cannot afford this.

Photo of Ukrainian soldiers in winter gear, marching behind a tank in a snowy landscape

Ukrainian soldiers ploughing through the snow on the frontlines

Volodymyr Zelensky's official Facebook account
Piotr Andrusieczko

-Analysis-

KYIVUkraine is fighting for its very existence, and the war will not end soon. What should be done in the face of this reality? How can Kyiv regain its advantage on the front lines?

It's hard to deny that pessimism has been spreading among supporters of the Ukrainian cause, with some even predicting ultimate defeat for Kyiv. It's difficult to agree with this, considering how this war began and what was at stake. Yes, Ukraine has not won yet, but Ukrainians have no choice for now but to continue fighting.

For the latest news & views from every corner of the world, Worldcrunch Today is the only truly international newsletter. Sign up here.

These assessments are the result of statements by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, and an interview with him in the British weekly The Economist, where the General analyzes the causes of failures on the front, notes the transition of the war to the positional phase, and, critically, evaluates the prospects and possibilities of breaking the deadlock.

Earlier, an article appeared in the American weekly TIME analyzing the challenges facing President Volodymyr Zelensky. His responses indicate that he is disappointed with the attitude of Western partners, and at the same time remains so determined that, somewhat lying to himself, he unequivocally believes in victory.

Combined, these two publications sparked discussions about the future course of the conflict and whether Ukraine can win at all.

Some people outright predict that what has been known from the beginning will happen: Russia will ultimately win, and Ukraine has already failed.

Keep reading...Show less

The latest