Remembering Marco Locci

In 1951, Marco Locci is born in Genoa, Italy.

The body of his work spans more than four decades. His rich gallery is often characterised by diversity. Images are strung together delicately with irony and paradox inspired by Borges.

Opening a custom framing shop in Rapallo his fascination with the sea and the rich literature from the sea, called him to paint ocean liners and ships he often knows intimate, dramatic details of. The horizon framing the edge of the water, perfect storms raging from Cape Horn to Gibilterra, battle ships and whales, all represent his dream of freedom and joyfulness.

Voyages end in speechless dreams. Boundless space conceals a labyrinth. Locci dares entering this world, following in Borges’ footsteps and while working on the most wicket perfect labyrinth from a single straight line, the Patanchi appear to him, mysterious, shadowless creatures – they live right there on the “horizon of events, on the edge of black holes”.

He paints their adventures, extraordinary voyages to Antartica on board of flying machines built from bamboo and Jay bird feathers. Boldly he tries to create the sunset that anticipates the future, painting red and orange clouds.

Then the Babel cycle comes to life, representing the archetypes of our unconsciousness, filled with myths and primordial forms. He paints the Tower of Babel, Icarus, the Mosque of Timbuktu, and the giants of Goya. He no longer uses colours, allowing black carbon, lard, and bitumen to bring images to life. These are his last paintings, and together with the small watercolours he called ‘logbook’ diaries. They were filled with notions of a voyage to unknown lands.

Marco Locci dies in Rapallo, 5 May 2015.