In the study of Ericailcane

Wikipedia has defined him street artist, illustrator, designer and sculptor. His story winds through the community centers and the streets of Bologna, before moving to other Italian cities, and finally on to world fame.
Personally I discovered him in an edition of Artefiera a few years ago, where his works, that immediately enchanted me, were already highly rated. Several times I passed the former “fruit and vegetable market” in Bologna, where his work triumphs along the walls of the building in Fioravanti street. And every time I stopped on every detail, for endless minutes.
And then, slowly, his figure appeared more tangibly on the internet and in print. And I continued to follow him. And I bought books, and followed his website and his facebook profile.
As a true street artist, I do not think he was ever shown to the public, or at least, I had not ever seen. At first I remember I had even suspected that he was a woman. Doubt set aside as soon as I bought his book, “Leonardo potente di fuoco.” A work magic, where he gave back life to his drawings as a child, revisiting in adult key.
The central theme of his work are animals, that such in a fantasy world, come to life from walls and white sheets. Pets altered, sometimes humanized, come out of his explosive fantasy, such as a bestiary, where reality merges with the surreal. His tract vaguely reminds the old encyclopedias black and white illustrations, but they immediatly gain a unique power and soul.
Until last week, I was living with absolute certainty that I would have to just imagine the face of this artist, who is one of my favorites. As long as on his Facebook profile I have found the invitation to visit his studio, with sale of some prints and objects, and a concert on the second day. Studio which is located in Bologna. I went on hour of opening with the intent to bring home a few pieces with me. I was full of emotion because I would have entered into a unique place and I was convinced that there would be someone in his place, to welcome the curious and passionate visitors and make our way into that world.
The image and title of the invitation, catapulted me into a fantastic dimension. It was titled: “Vendita all’incanto dallo studio di ericailcane di stampe, oggetti, mobilio, varie ed eventuali”, where a skeleton was given a monkey with hat, coat and guitar, a bottle filled with a rolled parchment.
This studio-workshop really enchanted me. The location is typical Bolognese shed, squeezed between two buildings below street level. It is accessed by a ramp, and a white bear invites you to enter. The interior reminded me of the workshop of an artist, but also exudes the air of a place where fantastic creatures are created, such as the study of Dr. Fankenstein. Dust, music and soft lighting frame stacks of sheets of any size and color prints stacked in disarray, perfect to be browsed and disorderly again and again. The first entrance room is full of posters on the walls, wood paneled and plank work, with the ink roller and the table of the incision.
Then you go into another room full of items recovered who knows when and where, as plastic letters from old signs, playing cards, round boxes from Russia, maybe coils or whatever …
And here, on the walls or shelves to the uprights, his sculptures of animal heads in clay, papier-mâché, perhaps, a chameleon climbing on a piece of furniture, stuffed animals created by his hand and his imagination. And a lot of people already at 11.30. Curious, embarrassed, almost afraid to be there, to break that magical place.
A girl greets me and offers me her help, and when I ask the prices of some prints, she tells me I have to ask HIM. Yeah, that’s right. I turn around and this guy sports outfit, with his hat on his head, silently looking around it’s him.
Long story short, I brought home three prints of a giant rooster who plays the trumpet, a sheep “butcher” with a knife and apron, and a squirrel covered with leaves and acorns. One folded poster printed on both sides with his designs, and the word IDEA in red and white plastic letters.
He stamped each print on the back side and asked not to sell (and who would never do that ???), then he thanked me smiling with his ​​blue eyes and shook my hand. There seems to be a veil between him and the outside world, that takes him a little ‘detached from reality, as if he looks it from another dimension. His, dimension. Made of fantastic creatures and paintings, plates, prints, murals, and the smell of ink and dust …