IN THE CREATIVE LIES THE INEXPLICABLE, THE SOULFUL
ROBERTO LEONARDI, THE DYNAMIC SPIRIT BEHIND LEONARDI,
LEFT THE CONFINES OF HIS ITALIAN HOMELAND IN TRENTINO AT AN EARLY AGE AND SET OFF ON A JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN. HIS EXTENSIVE TRAVELS TOOK HIM FROM SCANDINAVIA TO SOUTH AFRICA AND ASIA, WHERE HE PASSIONATELY AND SPONTANEOUSLY ABSORBED NEW IMPULSES.
PAINTING WAS HIS OUTLET FOR BRINGING THE EXPERIENCES AND IMPRESSIONS OF HIS TRAVELS INTO PICTORIAL FORM. HE DREW ON HIS ENCOUNTERS WITH FASCINATING PEOPLE, FOREIGN CULTURES, SMELLS, TASTES AND COLOURS. HIS FIRST STUDIO, A GOAT SHED ON AN ALPINE PASTURE IN SALZBURG AT AN ALTITUDE OF 2000 METRES, OFFERED HIM THE PEACE AND CLARITY HE NEEDED FOR HIS CREATIVE WORK WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
"MY WORKS ARE UNPLANNED AND UNINTENTIONAL. THEY DEVELOP IN ENERGY FIELDS AND ARE REALISED IN A PLAYFUL ACT. INSPIRATION COMES WHEN MATERIAL AND DEDICATION MEET. I FEEL LIKE A CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THE WORK BECOMES VISIBLE BEFORE MY EYES."
A FORMER HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE STATION THAT SERVED AS A LORRY GARAGE BECAME HIS PERMANENT STUDIO. IN THIS SPECIAL PLACE IN THE TRANQUIL VILLAGE OF MAUTERNDORF IN SALZBURGER LAND, HE CULTIVATED LIVELY CONVERSATIONS WITH CUSTOMERS AND FRIENDS ABOUT ART, LIFE AND THE MEANING OF BEING. AS A SPIRITUAL MAN, THE EXCHANGE WITH PEOPLE WAS CLOSE TO HIS HEART. A PROFOUND ENCOUNTER OVER A GLASS OF WINE AWAKENED THE GREATEST JOY IN HIM.
THESE INTIMATE MOMENTS IN WHICH HE SHARED HIS THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS NOT ONLY GAVE RISE TO CREATIVE IMPULSES, BUT ALSO A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN CONDITION AND PASSIONATE VISIONS THAT WERE IMPRINTED IN HIS ART.
