Mario Berrino Biography
Mario Berrino (Alassio, 22 September 1920 – Alassio, 3 August 2011) was an Italian painter, photographer and designer. Under the guidance of his father Angelo, a veteran of the First World War, with his brothers Elio, Giorgio and Adriano, in the post-war period he managed a famous restaurant in Western Liguria: the Caffè Roma in Alassio. In the years of the great recovery, Caffè Roma became the favorite meeting place of artists of national and international fame, including Ernest Hemingway who became his close friend. Mario Berrino submitted to his friend Ernest Hemingway the idea of transforming a low wall in front of the counter of his Cafè Roma bar, "a rustic little wall that bordered the public garden in a succession of irregular, brightly colored tiles" which would bear the signatures of the most illustrious customers of the Cafè Roma, including Carlo Biotti, Ernest Hemingway, who frequently spoke with Biotti, immediately liked the idea, and so he enthusiastically approved it. Not having a specific authorization from the Municipality of Alassio, the first three ceramic tiles, created by the ceramist Ivos Pacetti and with the signatures of the writer, the Cetra Quartet and the guitarist Cosimo Di Ceglie, were placed by Mario Berrino and Ernest Hemingway almost secretly at the dawn of 1953. Thus the Muretto di Alassio was born, considered an interactive installation destined to continue its evolution even after his death. A space in the Caffè Roma, called La buca del Muretto, was dedicated to art, and there exhibited important artists such as Lucio Fontana, Wilfredo Lam, Aligi Sassu, Umberto Lilloni, Franco Balan, the ceramists and sculptors of Albisola. Their knowledge, together with Professor Busnelli's artistic studies on the techniques of watercolour, tempera, encaustic and oil, stimulated him to research and gave him the impetus to start painting and exhibiting his canvases. In 1960 he was already an established painter with stable prices. In 1972 a newsreel produced by Radar Cinematografica dedicated a special report to his personal exhibition held in Busto Arsizio. In July 1974 he was the victim of a kidnapping. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 300 million lire, but Berrino managed to escape three days later, then presenting himself to the carabinieri. Since 1976 he has dedicated himself completely to painting. His paintings are permanently exhibited in two galleries dedicated to him in Alassio and Monte Carlo. Berrino died on August 3, 2011, aged 90. He had three daughters, including the radio presenter Luisella Berrino. On 14 February 1994 he was appointed first Honorary Consul of the Principality of Seborga (a Ligurian municipality) by Prince George I.
