Gino Guida Biography
Gino Guida (Naples, 1932 – Zagarolo, 17 December 2017) was an Italian painter and engraver. He is in Rome in his very early childhood; here he completed his classical studies and graduated from the Art School; Having left the Faculty of Architecture, he has various experiences in the field of comics, cartoons and film set design. He began painting in the early 1950s, soon deciding to pursue the profession of painter full time. In 1960, with Marcello Confetti, Paolo Ganna, Piero Guccione, Carlo Quattrucci, Pino Reggiani, Aldo Turkeyro and Pasquale Verrusio he formed the Roman figurative group "Libertà-Realtà" in reaction to the prevailing "informal" movement; whose first and only exhibition was held in January 1961 at the "Stagni" Gallery in Rome. The critic of the group was Antonio Del Guercio. In the summer of 1961 Guida had a serious hand accident. He didn't paint for more than a year. At the end of 1963, after his recovery, he went to live in Testaccio in the same building where Giovanni Checchi and Carlo Quattrucci also lived, to whom he was linked, if not by an artistic partnership, then by a profound friendship. In 1965 he had his first solo exhibition at the "Il Girasole" Gallery, of which he was one of the founders together with Amadio, Checchi, Ciai, Capotondi, Eustachio, Gaetaniello, Guiotto, Patella, Provino, Sarnari, Vaiano and the critic Giorgio Di Genova. They are works even more imbued with light: a white, bright, omnivorous light, different from the previous ones, more material and expressionist. Presenting it in the catalogue, Vespignani, to whom he was bound by a lasting friendship, highlighted its main originality in the abstract, metaphysical light, intertwined with amazement, mystery and timelessness.
