tributes Tommaso EppEsTEinghEr

introduction

overleaf: Tommaso Eppesteingher, serge gainsbourg, 2012

Tommaso Eppesteingher redefines the concept of tribute through his sketches.

musicians and artists like Chet Baker or David Lynch have often been offered

tributes with emulations and covers but Tommaso goes beyond a mere imitation to

praise the iconic presence of the artist, pairing his image to the value of his work.

Through the natural trait and the spare use of color the pictures provide a simple

yet unique impressions capable of grasping the very essence of the subject's

personality.

The ramones are depicted as caricatures of themselves or as Tommaso may see them

through the vernacular lens of his hometown Livorno. The long straight black hair

became a trend setter over the seventies and became an icon of freedom and

rebellion.

The ramones surely deserved Tommaso's tribute as they are often cited as the very

first punk rock group and since the birth of the band they toured for more than 20

years, releasing as many as 10 albums, the latest of which "ramones mania" was

certified gold record according to U.s. sales.

another fellow american, miles Dewey Davis is depicted with a blue hands. This

feature may reference the 1959 four times platinum Kind of Blue or one of the

many other blue releases. The color blue is a legacy to his music and stands to tribute

the unique timbre of his touch. The use of color in the background recalls the

flashing lights of the many metropolis jazz music was an expression of.

The other trumpeter featured in the exhibition Chet Baker is represented with the

pointillism techniques, drawing inspiration from one of his most famous pictures.

What would have been aging lines leave room to little black dots that, leaving aside

his age, emphasize his contemplation of the moment. The subtlety of the sketch

perfectly portraits the reverence to the artist and the respect for his work.

introduction

tributes Tommaso EppEsTEinghEr

by Thomas Brownlees

The picture to David Lynch is a tribute to his style and in itself an expression of his

unique artistic code. The cockerel with which he's represented is a clear reference

to his surrealistic poetic, which became a manifest of his work as a director, a

musician and composer. Lynch's expression suggests that he is a visionary state,

fundamental circumstance of his creations enabling him to develop his train of

thoughts. Depicting Lynch while pinching the rooster Tommaso seems to refer to

that sense of shock and shake that the director was aiming to create in his audiences.

Finally the picture of serge gainsburg featuring him smoking a cigarette closes the

circle depicting a different kind of artist. similarly to Lynch he was also a very

eclectic thinker lending his genius to poetry, songwriting, music and theater. in his

sketch Tommaso was able to communicate how serge seemed to be the least

interested in his image, displaying indifference if not contempt for being considered

one of the most influential popular French musicians.

This selection of works is able to convey Eppesteingher's great devotion to his

subjects, through his talented and sensitive traits, these works are able to dig into

the image of the musician unraveling a deeper understanding of their personality

and of their relationship with their audience. The little details on his prints reveal

dedication and passion for his subjects, giving to every stroke of his brushes insight

and intuition, that's the essence of Tommaso's tribute.

David Lynch, 2011

Chet Baker, 2012

miles Davis, 2012

Tom WaiTs The ramones, 2011

biographyTommaso Eppesteingher (Livorno, 1973), works as an illustrator and cartoonist for

important italian newspapers and magazines such as “il Tirreno” and

“il Vernacoliere”. since 1990, he has participated in contests in the field of satirical

graphic illustration and comics and has won many awards for books, tabloids and

advertisements. after obtaining a degree in art heritage Conservation at the

University of pisa, he studied at the Fine art academy in Florence. he received a

scholarship from the foundation of the Cassa di risparmio di Livorno bank to attend

the prestigious scuola di grafica d’arte “il Bisonte” in Florence. While completing

studies at “il Bisonte” he also completed a diploma in silk screen and printing

techniques under the supervision of the artist giuseppe Di giangirolamo.

always updated on the newest proposals of the art panorama, Tommaso

Eppesteingher likes to mix languages such as comics, illustration, and modern and

contemporary printing.

solo and group Exhibitions:

Disegni e stampe, Teatro C, Livorno 2012 - solo -

mirror mirror, with michael rotondi, Theatralia, Livorno 2010;

50x50=LoVE, nuovo teatro delle commedie. Livorno 2008;

prEmio graFiCa sanTa CroCE, fourth edition, santa Croce sull’arno 2007;

Festival di gastroumorismo: CULinaria risinTErra, s. salvo Chieti 2005,

2006

sTraDE, Circolo Ensamble, Livorno 2001;

TELEpaTiEmoTiVE, palazzo Chigi, san Quirico d'orcia siena 2001;

QUiD, armunia, Castello pasquini Castiglioncello Livorno 2000

Tributesby Tommaso Eppestaingher

26 september - 13 november 2012

ganZovia Dei macci 85/r Firenze

055 241076

Critical TextsThomas Brownlees

graphicsalberto simoncioni

Logistic Lucia giardino

Logistic assistants abigal Englund, annapaola presta

palazzi press office 

sponsors and promotersgabriella ganugi - palazzi presidentFUa - Florence University of the arts

F_air - Florence artist in residence and Fua school of Fine arts

special thanks to palazzi staff and all those who made the exhibition possible, in particular to

susanna Bausi, grace Joh

acknowledgements & credits

ganzoflorence.com