|
The oriental
disciplines have brought Francesco towards the Tai Ji that he has
studied for 15 years with the teacher Zhao, and at the same time,
towards Qi Gong. Currently Francesco is a master of Qigong and
teaches in Perugia..
Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese art which allows us to manage the
vital energy, the Qi, through our will. It is practised by
following simple movements to train the mind to drive one’s own
energy. It is used, above all, to maintain vitality and health.
The symbols and gestures of Qi
Gong can be seen in some of the works. Above all there is the
symbol of Tai Ji which represents the perfect equilibrium between
Yin and Yang. This symbol is a circle which contains two segments,
one white and one black, with another circle of the contrasting
colour within each. Any diameter of the circle contains an equal
amount of white and black, as should always be demonstrated in the
life of man. It is a continuously rotating symbol, as are the
movements in all human activities.
The work Containing the
energy is a self-portrait based on a Taiji figure, in which
the fighter takes a moment of rest to regenerate his own energies
and to stabilize the internal energy. The Taiji, besides being a
discipline for health, is a martial art which is performed with
thoughtful slowness. The apprentice performs a series of defensive
stances one of which is Containing the energy.
Francesco has been inserted between photons of light which bring the
ideograms on a base of gold - "Tao Te Ching -
道德經
- Daodejing" (The
book of Tao and virtue – by Laozi), while on one photon is
brought a passage from the same text that recites: “Obscurity of
obscurity, gateway of all the mysteries”.
With these hermetic words, which are found in the first verses of
the text, the great philosopher warns that the subject matter is
obscure and so casts doubt on the absolute value of the affirmations
of the essay, similar to the saying of the Greek philosopher
Socrates: “I know that I know nothing”. |
 |
