Insider magazine south africa italian ambassadors perennial trophy 2nd edition 2014 by Mariela A. Gizzi

Sout h Africa

Year 2 •

Number 1 •

Free copy

•

November 2014

publishing Editor Insider Srl Via Martignano, 6 - 00199 Rome - Italy ph +39 3358023548 • +39 3356873761 Chief Operating Officer Raimondo Cappa amministrazione@insidermagazine.it

CONTENTS NOVEMBER

Managing Director Francesca d’Aloja direzione@insidermagazine.it Editorial Director Mariela A. Gizzi redazione@insidermagazine.it Managing Editor italy Donatella Codonesu redazione2@insidermagazine.it Managing Editor south africa Alessandro Costa

Cover SA Dream Shapes

EDITOR SOUTH AFRICA Michael Titlestad Art Director info@csgraphicdesign.it grafica@insidermagazine.it Covers Graphic and Project Carolina Schioppa contributing writers Alessandro Costa Anna Barbato Berthine van Schoor Claudio D’Agostini Edoardo Maria Vitali Flaviana Zaccaria Gerardo De Maio Jacopo Moggi Cecchi Luigi Donà dalle Rose Mattia Vaccari Paolo Bonissone Ray Matthews

sailing

event

sailing

interview

art

research

Italian ambassador trophy II

the cavour in cape town

children’s smiles

PRINTING Creda Communications Eliot Avenue Epping II 7475 Cape Town - South Africa

YEAR 2 - NUMBER 1 November 2014 Company Register: Court of Rome, n° 58/2009 of 25/2/2009 The brand is protected by the Italian Brand and Patent Office Copy right Insider ©. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher.

from cape to rio

giovanni soldini

giulio bertrand’s morgenster

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bronze casting at vignali’s

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A Foreword from Lapo Pistelli Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

hen Ambassador Schioppa proposed me to write the foreword to the new Insider/ South Africa issue I had no hesitation. We were in Cape Town for the first edition of the AmbrosettiThe European House “2014 South Africa-Italy Summit”. Authorities, businessmen and various personalities from the two countries were gathering to pave the way for a big boost to the bilateral economic partnership, considering the great potential still unexploited of our relations. I immediately accepted. South Africa is a country I love. I had the chance to gain a deep knowledge of the Rainbow Nation, thanks to several visits I had paid during my previous capacities, especially as chairman of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with South Africa and while in charge of the relations with the ANC on behalf of the Italian Democratic Party. I have always promoted a stronger partnership between Italy and South Africa, and this remains one of my goals as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. South Africa leads the upswing of the entire continent, and

is a model of inspiration for all the nations struggling for their liberty. The beloved former President Nelson Mandela showed how precious is the dignity of every human being, and his great lesson we will never forget. Certainly there are plenty of reasons to promote an economic partnership between our two countries. What really matters are not just analysis and calculations, but also - and above all - the “human factor”. And on this regard Italians and South Africans have so much to share and to build upon. Not only looking at the past, with the bright examples of the cities of Reggio Emilia and Firenze, but also considering the present and heading to the future. This issue of Insider/South Africa perfectly matches my approach. You will read articles on business and excellent enterprises, but its main focus is on the promotion of social cohesion and development for all, especially for the most disadvantaged. Italy has implemented many initiatives for the kids of South Africa, and this magazine highlights some of them. This is its main merit and the reason why I am really glad to wish you a pleasant reading! ◆

A note from Vincenzo Schioppa Ambassador of Italy to South Africa

ne year after the launch of the Issue-Zero and the fun and glamour of the first charity regatta for the Italian Ambassador’s Perennial Trophy in Cape Town, our magazine is there again, to tell a lot about the warm and deep relations between Italy and South Africa. Many relevant events took place in the last twelve months. South Africa has celebrated its 20th anniversary as a democracy, and went through the first political elections without Nelson Mandela, the beloved Father of the Nation, who left behind him a strong legacy for the younger generations and for all of us as well. In Italy we have a new, dynamic Government - headed by the youngest Prime Minister ever - which has shown a strong and renewed interest in strengthening our links with Africa. The presence of the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Lapo Pistelli at the Ambrosetti- The European House “South Africa-Italy Summit” in October was a very important step in this direction. We have witnessed a number of reciprocal marks of friendship between Italy and South Africa, the most spectacular being the campaign of the 30th Naval Group with the flagship of our Navy, the Cavour, which docked in Cape Town in February. The superb aircraft-carrier transported Italian design and technology, but above all human feelings. Thousands of people queued patiently under the sun to pay a visit to the

ships, to mix-up and to interact with our crews. Enthusiasm was everywhere, but above all on the faces of the hundreds of children from disadvantaged communities of the Cape Region wondering on the decks… This is the feeling - the passion - that brought us to launch a second and we hope even more attractive issue of Insider/ South Africa, whose ambition is to become a permanent tool for fostering reciprocal knowledge and help cementing human relations between Italians and South Africans. This year as well the magazine will accompany the charity regatta, an awaited occasion not only for the young sailors of the Izivunguvungu and RCYC Schools, but also for all the skippers, crews and guests for celebrating all together the values of the sea, seamanship and sport. I wish to sincerely thank all collaborators and friends, in Italy and in South Africa. I could not mention all, but I cannot not mention Edoardo Vitali, Toni Mainprize with Ray Matthews and all the friends of the RCYC in Cape Town; the President of the Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, Carlo Campobasso; Alessandro Costa, Gerardo De Maio, Francesco Angeloni, Paolo Bonissone, Gloria Ferrari in Pretoria; my daughter Carolina in Paris, and my old friend Raimondo Cappa with Mariela and their staff in Rome. Buona lettura, e buon divertimento alla Regata! ◆

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Italian Ambassador’s Perennial Trophy by Edoardo Maria Vitali - ph Trevor Wilkins

t was intended to be a celebration of sport, solidarity and friendship. And so it was. The first edition of the “Italian Ambassador’s Perennial Trophy”, a charity regatta held on 23 November 2013 in the beautiful setting of Table Bay, proved to be an extraordinary treat for young and older united by love of sailing and a passion for the sea and sport. The event was organized with the support of the Royal Cape Town Yacht Club (RCYC) and the Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia of Naples, Italy, which in that occasion celebrated their twinning. The “Perennial Trophy” has been expressly instituted by the Italian Ambassador to Pretoria, Vincenzo Schioppa, to benefit “Izivunguvungu - MSC Foundation for the Youth” hosted in the Navy Base in Simon’s Town and the RCYC Sailing Academy. Both sailing schools teach the values of seamanship to dozens of young people from underprivileged areas of Cape Town. The young sailors were thus given the opportunity to get on board larger yachts and to share their passion and ability with experienced skippers. The regatta, recognized and officially supported by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), has a preeminently social mission, which coupled with the glamour. On the eve of the race, all the guests and the participants to the regatta gathered at the Italian Residence in Bishopscourt, where the party went on in a truly enjoyable and festive atmosphere.

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At the celebration it really did not matter that the next day the fearsome â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cape Doctorâ&#x20AC;?, the summer south-easterly wind typical to the Cape Peninsula, would blow with gusts in excess of thirty knots. The wind also did not prevent many crews - 28 boats in total, ranging from 35 to 82 feet long from setting sail and having some sporty tries. Representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps in South Africa, members of the business and social communities of Cape Town, TV and media stars, experienced skippers (including Raimondo Cappa, the former Italian J24 world champion) and - of course enthusiastic young sailors between the ages of 10 and 18 all sailed against the breath-taking backdrop of Table Mountain.

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For the supporters and all those who decided to wait the return of the crews on shore, the RCYC and the cheerful music played by the Izivunguvungu school band provided an enjoyable distraction. The first windswept regatta saw the symbolic passage of the perennial trophy: a fine mosaic artwork made by the celebrated Italian artist, Vera Giovitto, which will be retained at the RCYC. It was awarded to the “Sea and the Youth of the Cape”, a choice which was shared and commended by all those present. A special floating trophy has also been established in that occasion as a tribute to the Italian sailor and Admiral Agostino Straulino (1914-2004). The “Straulino award” is indeed one of the late Admiral’s trophies, donated by his daughter. A unique and highly appreciated support to the “Perennial Trophy”. The sea is a formidable teacher of the values of competition, cooperation and team spirit, but first and foremost of the values of equality. Sailing is thus a very precious school for young generations all around the world. The “Italian Ambassador’s Perennial Trophy” should then become - as it is hoped by the founder and by the RCYC and the Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia - a long-lasting project that imbues the youth of the Cape with the “spirit of the sea” ◆

Moldova Noua, Romania - EGP wind Power Plant, 48 MW capacity

ENEL

ENEL GREEN POWER

Renewable Solutions

nel is Italy’s largest power company and Europe’s second listed utility by installed capacity. It is a leading integrated player in the power and gas markets of Europe and Latin America, operating in 40 countries across 4 continents overseeing power generation about 99 GW of net installed capacity and distributing electricity and gas through a network spanning around 1.9 million km to serve around 61 million customers.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Istia, Italy - ESSE PV Power Plant, 1.4 MW capacity - 3Sun Thin film modules

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

In 2013, Enel posted revenues of around 80.5 billion euros, EBITDA of, approximately, 17 billion euros and net ordinary income of around 3.5 billion euros. As of December 31st, 2013, the Group has more than 71,000 employees and operates a wide range of hydroelectric, thermoelectric, nuclear, geothermal, wind, solar and other renewable power plants. Over 42% of the power generated by Enel last year was carbon free.

SOLAR JOINT VENTURES 3SUN AND ESSE

As far as the latest-generation of photovoltaics is concerned, the 3Sun factory is operational in Sicily, producing innovative PV panels. Currently, the factory employs 300 qualified staff and has a PV panel production capacity totaling 220 MW per year. It produces Amorphous Silicon Multi - Junction Thin-Film PV panels suitable for high average temperatures, meeting demand in solar-energy global market. Enel Green Power and Sharp Solar Energy s.r.l. (ESSE) was established as a Rome-based multi-national joint venture in 2010, to implement the BOO (build, operate, and own) business of Photovoltaic IPP (Independent Power Producer) plants in the regions of Europe, Middle East and Africa utilising the photovoltaic modules produced by 3Sun. The 10 MW project of Upington in the Northern Cape Province has been awarded in May 2012 (Round 2 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program - REIPPPP - tender) and has been connected to the grid in May 2014.

GLOBAL PRESENCE

Listed on the Milan stock exchange since 1999, Enel has the largest number of shareholders of any Italian company, with 1.2 million retail and institutional investors. The most important of Enel’s shareholders is the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance which holds 31.24% of the Company’s shares. 14 other Group companies are listed on the stock exchanges of Italy, Spain, Russia, Argentina, Brasil, Chile and Peru. Enel’s commitment to values embodied in its Code of Ethics, its Sustainability Report and the adoption of international best practices promoting environmental protection, transparency and corporate governance has attracted international investment funds, insurance companies, pension funds and ethical funds to its rank of shareholders. The Enel Group is present in 40 countries over 4 continents. Enel is strongly committed to the development of renewable sources and to the research and development of new, environmentally friendly technologies.

Enel Green Power (EGP) is the Group’s listed Company dedicated to the development and management of power generation from renewable sources, operating of 8.900 MW of installed capacity. The Company’s generation mix includes the main renewable sources: wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass. Enel Green Power also devotes special attention to technological innovation and research. Founded in December 2008, EGP is a global leader in renewable energy generation, with an annual production of 29,5 TW/h, meeting the energy consumption of over 10 million families and avoiding 16 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. EGP has around 752 operational plants in 16 countries in Europe and America.

Upington, South Africa - ESSE PV Power Plant, 10 MW capacity - 3Sun Thin film modules

All data in this presentation are updated at 31th December 2013, unless otherwise stated.

EGP in South Africa Enel Green Power RSA is the Enel Group company dedicated to the development and management of electricity generation from renewable sources in South Africa. Based in Johannesburg, Enel Green Power RSA benefits from the Enel Group’s synergies and expertise in many areas, especially in wind and solar power. Enel Green Power RSA is implementing the wind and solar photovoltaic projects awarded in Round 3 of the REIPPPP for respectively 199 MW and 314 MW, totaling overall 513 MW. The photovoltaic power plants are: Adams (82.5 MW) located in Northern Cape Province; Paleisheuwel (82.5 MW) located in Western Cape Province ; Pulida (82.5 MW) located in Free State Province; Tom Burke (66 MW) located in Limpopo Province. The wind power plants are Nojoli (88 MW) located in Eastern Cape Province and Gibson Bay (111 MW) located in Eastern Cape Province. The plants are located in different areas of the country depending on the solar and wind resource availability. Power plants construction is going to start. Plants operation is expected in 2015/2016. EGP has always been committed to the diffusion of sustainability culture and is currently providing free courses for PV installers and sellers. EGP is also exploring the possibility to enter the retail market ◆

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The Cavour in Cape Town: something truly exceptional by Paolo Bonissone - ph Italian Navy

ince February this year, Shendy and Eric have been playing in the shade of trees. They remember a handful of white men, dressed in even whiter uniforms, who visited Holy Cross School to spend an afternoon planting the trees. The men were seamen - Padre Giovanni explained to the children - from the Italian Navy. When they were docked in Cape Town on manoeuvres, the sailors ventured to District Six on a different sort of mission. At first, Shendy and Eric were slightly bewildered, but they soon sensed that the men were there with good intentions. There was no doubt that the sailors’ smiles were sincere. A few days later, Shendy and Eric saw the sailors in white uniforms again. There were dozens, even hundreds, lined up on the deck of the immense ship - by far the biggest vessel the children had ever seen - to welcome on board the students of many different schools, that caravans of coaches organized by the Consulate has brought to the harbour. The smiling Italian sailors accompanied the children through the labyrinth

The arrival of the Cavour in Cape Town

Inauguration on board of the Cavour by Admiral Paolo Treu and the Ambassador of Italy

of passages, halls and rooms inside the ship, and introduced them to the practices and protocols of seamanship. Those were unforgettable lessons, so different from the classes at school. Shendy and Eric will always remember the courtesy of the seamen, their elegant uniforms and especially their disposition towards the children. A thousand children from the most disadvantaged communities of the Western Cape had the chance to experience a visit to the magnificent vessel Cavour, the flagship of the Italian Navy. It led into Cape Town an Italian naval convoy, also comprising the frigate Bergamini and the support ship Etna, and remained from the 5th to the 11th of February 2014. To highlight the relevance of the initiative, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Armed Forces Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli paid a visit to the vessels as part of his simultaneous mission to South Africa, where he led a high level delegation for various meetings with South African counterparts. A reception in his honour was held at the Italian Residence in

Bishopscourt, where Admiral Binelli Mantelli met amongst other personalities the Mayor of Cape Town Ms Patricia De Lille. A crest given by him will be one the prizes awarded to the “Ambassador’s Trophy” winner. The Cape Town visit was half-way on a long African campaign by the 30th Group of the Italian Navy (“A Country on the Move”), a mission characterized by a strong humanitarian accent and by activities directed to communities and partnerships. The Cavour was supplied with state-of-theart medical equipment and staffed by specialized medical personnel. They provided medical care for children in a number of ports. The Italian NGO, “Operation Smile Italy”, in partnership with “Operation Smile South Africa”, offered on-board facial reconstructive surgery for disadvantaged children born with facial deformities, while “Fondazione Francesca Rava” organized phthalmologic and optometric screening for children affected by avoidable blindness. Volunteers of the Italian Red Cross assisted the operations.

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Reception at the Italian Residence in Bishopscourt

Sailors on “Cavour”

Chief of Staff Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli with the Mayor of Cape Town, Ms. Patricia De Lille

Gathering of Ferraris

The tour also had promotional aims. The Cavour carried fine examples of “Made in Italy” production: a number of companies working in the field of engineering, aerospace, defence and industrial design presented some of their newest creations. An exhibition of Italian design by FederLegnoArredo was also on display for visitors. The convoy’s visit to Cape Town was officially inaugurated at a press conference attended by the Italian Ambassador and the Commander of the Naval Group, Admiral Paolo Treu, who also jointly opened the exhibitions onboard. The unprecedented number of participants, including Italian authorities, officials, entrepreneurs, celebrities, journalists and various guests, witnessed with delight the Capetonians’ curiosity for all things Italian. It is possible to mention only some of the events that took place during the convoy’s stay.

While queues of tourists and Capetonians alike filled the pier at the Waterfront to get onboard the frigate Bergamini, dozens of Ferrari cars gathered on the commercial harbour, alongside the Cavour. That was the Southern Equatorial Ferrari Automobili Club’s way of honouring the Navy. Interestingly, this is the oldest Ferrari Club outside Italy. The display of cars, with Table Mountain in the background, was breath-taking. The scene was also set for a spectacular Pirelli event, which took place on the upper deck in the evening: a professional motorbike rider performed a magnificent routine of stunts, which amazed the gathered audience. Even more glamorous was the closing event: a gala dinner to raise funds for charity. The Mayor of Cape Town, Ms Patricia de Lille, introduced a series of dance and musical performances. The renowned composer and conductor, Maestro Francesco Sartori, and the Italian Rhythmic

Pirelli event onboard

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Italian Navy crew with the Izivunguvungu young sailors

Ambassador’s Christmas Regatta in Simon’s Town with the Izivunguvungu sailing school

Children visiting the ship

Symphony Orchestra performed with the tenor Francesco Grollo. Many of the guests danced late into the night. Our Navy also wanted to pay a tribute to the Italian community in South Africa. Hundreds of Italians from the Cape, but also from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, assembled to salute the Cavour. Holy Mass was jointly celebrated onboard by the Military Chaplain and the Archbishop of Cape Town, who blessed wreaths that were laid in memory of both the Italian prisoners of World War II who died in the concentration camps in South Africa and the fallen soldiers of all wars. The main focus of the visit remained the social and community-based activities, including the “Christmas Regatta”, a sailing event at the Izivunguvungu Sailing Centre in Simon’s Town, promoted by the Embassy to benefit disadvantaged youth of the Cape Region. Watched by their commander, Admiral Treu, several Italian Navy seamen took part in the regatta, and they were overcome by the young sailors of the Izivunguvungu School. A party for the winners concluded the event, with the Ambassador and the Admiral accompanying the joyful school band on drums. So many lovely tales could be told about the Navy’s visit to Cape Town! Everyone who had the chance to be there remembers the occasion fondly. But seeing Shendy and Eric playing under the trees in the garden of the Holy Cross School in District Six is the best reward for those who were involved in the organization of the events. That scene attests that something truly exceptional occurred, which links forever South Africa and Italy ◆

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Bringing a Smile to the children of the Cape by Operation Smile

r. Francesco Bellia was a member of the international team of volunteers from the NGO “Operation Smile” who, on board of the aircraft carrier Cavour from the 5th to the 10th of February, offered free facial reconstructive surgery to disadvantaged children born with facial deformities. During the stay in Cape Town of the 30th Naval Group, 29 children had a medical examination, while 25 were operated by the medical staff. These are his memories of those days: “The afternoon I took the plane back to Italy, I couldn’t stop thinking about the mission in Cape Town, one of the most successful I have ever been involved in as a volunteer for “Operation Smile”. In my mind I see the faces of those many

beautiful South African children that we examined, suffering from facial deformities, cleft palates and hare lips. I vividly recall the intense yet calm look of my first little patient, looking at me up and down as I examined him; carefully watching even my slightest move and looking for comfort from his mother, standing beside him. The mission in South Africa was different to the others, perhaps because it took place inside the aircraft carrier Cavour, whose sailors greatly supported our Team. A new hospital was fully equipped with two operating theatres, an intensive therapy room, several hospital beds, radiography units capable of carrying out x-rays, CAT scans, lab examinations. All this for humanitarian purposes. The first operations were experienced with trepidation

by both parents and the Navy sailors and everything went according to plan: the surgery started perfectly on time and forty-five minutes later the first child left the operating theatre. Conrad, the plastic surgeon, brought him to me in the recovery room. He was fine. His lips perfectly aligned; his vital statistics perfect and he was experiencing no pain. A few minutes later he was given back to his mother: an encounter that can’t be described. It was a magical moment that touched even the most hardened Navy men. Those days passed so quickly and all went well, as foreseen. 25 children have a new smile today: this is the most important thing of all. Finally the parents knew the faces of each of us, some even called us by our first names. Certainly I may never see these children again, but I will never forget the joy that I felt in seeing them smiling for the first time” ◆

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Transforming children’s lives through sight by Fondazione Francesca Rava - NPH Italia

ore than 2 500 children received a medical examination from the 27 Italian volunteer ophthalmologists and optometrists involved in the campaign against avoidable blindness “Transforming Children’s through Sight”, which brought the Italian NGO “Fondazione Francesca Rava” to eight African countries between January and April 2014. Supported by Federottica and the Italian Association of Ophthalmologist Doctors (AIMO), as well as by many Italian and international companies which supplied instruments, lenses, frames and medicines, the volunteers of “Fondazione Francesca Rava” equipped the supply ship Etna of the

30th Naval Group with two surgeries and with a complete laboratory in which to make new glasses. In Cape Town, from the 5th to the 10th of February, the medical team - one ophthalmologist and four optometrists - was able to assist 267 children, delivering more than 120 pairs of glasses to the young patients. According to Mariavittoria Rava, President of the NGO, the mission was successful. “It was an important campaign, which allowed us to provide ophthalmological and ophthalmic screening to children who otherwise would have never had the opportunity to access these medical examinations.”

Dr. Giovanni Mana, one of the volunteers, recalls one of his most touching experiences during the visit of the Naval Group to South Africa. “I examined an eleven-year-old girl, so timid and lost, I had been told that she may suffer from myopia. I carried out the medical test, which confirmed a serious visual defect. I asked her if she had ever worn glasses and she said “No”. So I balanced a pair of test-glasses with her prescription on her little nose and asked her to try to walk and look around. I wanted to see her reaction as she walked with the glasses… She did so and suddenly, once she had seen the world around her for a few seconds, she turned toward me and burst into tears, hugging me for such a long time that it made me so emotional. In a moment, both of us were weeping in silence” ◆

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South Africa-Italy Summit: exploring complementarities

“W

e want to further deepen our relations with South Africa at high political level possibly through a bilateral agreement setting up regular consultation meetings. We have an old history of friendship with the South African people, and Italy has been a staunch supporter during the struggle against apartheid. There is lot to build upon, including our dynamic community here”. This is what the Italian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Lapo Pistelli, said at the first South Africa - Italy Summit. Upon initiative of Italy’s leading consulting firm and think tank The European House-Ambrosetti (TEH-A), over 100 top executives of Italian and South African companies, economists and high level officials gathered in Cape Town on October 2-3, to build a selected community of business leaders to grow their companies in the two countries and continents and, in particular, in the Sub-Saharan Africa where in the next decades there will be an astonishing growth.

Sub-Saharan Africa is indeed one of the fastest-growing regions in the world (GDP is expected to grow by 6% in 2015). The development of the area is opening up enormous business opportunities for Italy and South Africa together. In particular, governments in the region are launching specific programs and investment incentives in the manufacturing, energy and agribusiness sector: ◆◆

food demand in Sub-Saharan Africa will grow at an average annual rate of 3% and agribusiness sector will be worth 1,000 billion Dollars by 2030;

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energy demand in the region will increase by 107% by 2040, with investments for more than 50 billion Dollars per year; members of the Southern African Power Pool1 will invest 200 billion Dollars by 2030;

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the overall figures of middle class population in SubSaharan Africa will exceed the one of India, and aggregate spending will surpass 2,000 billion Dollars by 2030.

business 1. Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe

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There exists a long-standing tradition of cooperation of Italian companies who have operated for years in South Africa, including in positions of excellence in some key sectors such as energy, infrastructure and automotive. Nevertheless, the levels of trade and investments between the two countries are less than desired, while the potential to boost the relations is very high. Intervening as a main speaker during the Summit ad at its conclusion, Vice Minister Pistelli confirmed the commitment of the Italian Government to support Italian business to flourish abroad, and that South Africa is a prime objective. “Our aim”, he said, “is to help in the next three years 20.000 Italian companies to become competitive at a global level. It is now time to stop talking and start acting.” The recent reform of the Italian Development Cooperation will also provide some tools for financial support, also thanks to new missions for “Cassa Depositi e Prestiti”. Valerio De Molli, Managing Partner of The European HouseAmbrosetti, highlighted that “South Africa boasts the tenthlargest rail system in the world and Johannesburg has one of busiest airports that attracts flights from around the globe; telecommunications and financial services are also highly-

developed, and Italian companies should take advantage of this infrastructural system to invest in the country”. “With this Summit”, Valerio De Molli added, “The European House-Ambrosetti has confirmed its ability - as a think tank to create content and ideas to take full advantage of the major opportunities offered by this market, developing platforms for relations between world leaders to be used to shape business partnerships”. The Summit has given entrepreneurs from the two countries a good platform to network, a success that has been witnessed by the Ambassador of Italy to South Africa, Vincenzo Schioppa. “It is a bit too early to discuss fruits”, said the Ambassador, “but what I see is that business people have already started discussing real business opportunities, so I am quite optimistic about that. This is the right place to produce together”, he added. The South Africa-Italy Summit is the annual event that gathers the most important Italian and South African political and business leaders with the objective of strengthening strategic relationship in both countries and their related continents. Mission that seems to have been accomplished. The next South Africa-Italy Summit will take place October 1-2, 2015 in Cape Town ◆

business

Under the patronage of the Italian National Olympic Committee

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Iveco

HERE TO STAY

veco’s growing presence on the African continent is mounting to the release of its latest generation Eurocargo to be assembled in South Africa. This launch ushers in the forthcoming inauguration of Iveco’s new plant in the country, a milestone for the Italian manufacturer that identified Africa as an important market for growth. As proof of Iveco’s long-term commitment in Africa is the appointment of Mario Gasparri as Vice President of CNH Industrial, the holding company for Southern Africa. He will assume responsibility of all CNH Industrial’s brands and activities, of which Iveco is included.

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Vice President of CNH Industrial Southern Africa Mario Gasparri at the Rosslyn plant with the employees

Mario Gasparri’s history with Fiat Group, then later CNH Industrial, started in 1988 in Italy, where he gained diverse experience spanning across the construction, agricultural and vehicle sectors of various markets around the globe. The recent investment of R500 million in the commercial vehicles assembly plant in Rosslyn, outside of Pretoria, is another signal of CNH Industrial’s existence that is not only prevalent in South Africa, but on the continent as a whole. Iveco South Africa Works is the joint-venture of Larimar Group, a leading South African public transport operator and bus bodybuilder. The manufacturing facility has already started building Iveco’s new Eurocargo medium capacity truck for the local and export markets which has seen the establishment of an expanding commercial network over the past 20 years.

“Our plant in Rosslyn will act as a gateway to Africa. We see significant potential for growth in the economies of subSaharan Africa, particularly for large infrastructure projects,” says Mario Gasparri. The official inauguration of the plant will be hosted in November 2014. Medium, heavy and extra-heavy duty commercial vehicles as well as front engine and low floor city buses will be assembled on the premises. The plant has been designed to reach an annual build capacity of 6000 trucks, 1000 buses, and 1,000 South African employees are expected to be recruited in this new location. To accompany the opening of this new plant, Iveco launched the “Born in South Africa” campaign in October, which spotlights the local manufacturing of specific Iveco products for the market.

The new “Born in South Africa” logo depicts a ‘stamp of authenticity’ certifying the quality of the new Iveco commercial vehicles assembled locally and tailored for the varied terrain and challenging driving conditions of Africa which carry a demand for specific requirements. The new plant underpins Iveco’s strategy of manufacturing globally, while tailoring products for local needs. Mario Gasparri makes no secret of his high expectations with the opening of this new plant: “We have high ambitions which we are serious about achieving. We have already noticed changes and improvements and we expect to grow our volumes and market share.” He concludes ◆

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From Cape to Rio: a race between two worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landmarks The Cape to Rio Race 2014, which started on the 4th of January and saw the amazing victory of the Italian skipper Giovanni Soldini, was successfully organized by the Royal Cape Yacht Club and its Commodore, Ray Matthews by Ray Matthews, Commodore of the Royal Cape Yacht Club and Cape to Rio Race chairman - ph Trevor Wilkins

hat a surprise while enjoying my September holiday in Ireland to get a call from Commodore Dale Kushner to ask if I would like to take over the chairmanship of the Cape to Rio race starting on the 4th January 2014. We were only due back In Cape Town by early October so it was onto the internet to begin the planning from afar. I soon learned that I was handling a race with an extraordinary rich heritage. Right from the start in 1971 the race attracted huge international interest. It is a fascinating and tactical race, demanding both a high level of seamanship and expert weather savvy. Best known as the Cape to Rio Race, the race has indeed headed mainly for Rio, but at times we have had to adapt the race to other South American venues, including Punta del Este in Uruguay, and more recently Salvador, the capital of the Brazilian state of Bahia. The first race attracted an amazing international entry of 69 boats, whose skippers included Robin Knox-Johnston, Eric Tabarly, Kees Bruynzeel, and Lt.Cdr. Maximo Reveiro Kelly. The 1971 Line honours went to the British 21.6m ketch Ocean Spirit, co-skippered by Knox-Johnston and Leslie Williams after a crossing of 23 days and 42 minutes. Finally back in Cape Town, race headquarters at Royal Cape

Yacht club was activated and we began preparing facilities for the entrants. Having already received an Australian entry from a very competitive RP52, Scarlet Runner, I was looking forward to some good competition for them. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to wait long, for a great competitive entry from Italy, the Italian Volvo Open 70 racing yacht, Maserati, who we heard were out to break the Cape to Rio crossing record. The team at Royal Cape were now very motivated to take this International event to a new level. A major hassle for competitors is the enormous amount of documentation required to embark on an ocean crossing both for the crew and the boat, and with the help of staff and members of Royal Cape all efforts were made to simplify these processes for competitors. As race day drew near we had 35 boats with 250 competitors from 9 countries. The weather that day was mild with a gentle breeze to send the crews off to Rio de Janeiro. These Ideal conditions were soon set to change and by 10am the next morning reports of extreme heavy weather started to come in, with some reports of a broken rudder and sail damages. By early afternoon the situation had deteriorated with a tragic report coming in from the Angolan yacht Bille, they had one fatality and 3 seriously injured.

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Within hours the South African Navy had started preparations to depart for the search and rescue of yacht Bille. Later that evening the SAS Isandlwana left Cape Town carrying the RCYC general manager to search the rescue area. By early Monday morning the navy had evacuated the crew from Bille who all received immediate medical attention from the trained crew. SAS Isandlwana then proceeded to locate and check on the other yachts that had sent out distress signals. Eventually 9 yachts retired from the race as a result of this storm and one yacht, Bille, was lost with one fatality. Having travelled half way round the world to take part in our race, the Italian entry Maserati, (a proven boat with a great record), had made good headway through the storm and out the other side with a huge lead. As the daily progress reports started coming in it was clear that Maserati and the crew, led by Giovanni Soldini, may have a chance to break the record for the crossing. The race was on and now the big question remained as to who would be in Rio first, me to finish the race, or Maserati to win it? Well, as the record books now stand, Maserati completed the race in 10 days followed by the Australians on Scarlett Runner, and the last boat Hot Ice finishing 18 days later. We could not have asked for greater hosts for the prize giving, Rio Yacht Cub gave justice to the race and the achievements of the competitors by putting on a magnificent prize giving in Rio by the club pool facilities on Friday 1st February. Maserati quite deservedly dominated the awards ceremony and we were extremely pleased that some of the crew stayed on to receive the trophies. Well done Soldini and the Maserati crew! We look forward to another great race between these two lovely cities starting on New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day 2017 â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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Giovanni Soldini & the Cape2Rio: an interview ph Trevor Wilkins

iovanni Soldini was born in Milan in 1966 and, since he was a child, spent most of his life sailing around the world. With twenty yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience of ocean regattas behind him and over 40 transoceanic races, including two single-handed around-theworld races, Mr. Soldini can be considered one of the best seamen in the history of sailing. Among his many stunning achievements: on the 15 January 2014 he crossed the finish line of the 14th Cape2Rio race with Team Maserati, setting a new record after sailing 3 300 nautical miles from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro in 10 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes and 57 seconds.

Well, the race is beautiful! First of all because the departure is in Cape Town, a wonderful landmark and even a more fantastic city. And the arrival in Rio the Janeiro, the ideal setting for any race! From a technical point of view, then, the Cape2Rio in similar to other regattas. However, when leaving from Cape Town, we have to deal with the latitude of the city, which is placed well in the south of the hemisphere. Thus you have always to expect some strong weather fronts coming from the South Seas, which can be accompanied by violent storms. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what happened during the last race.

interview In light of your experience as a seaman, what are the distinctive traits of the Cape2Rio compared to other races?

A violent storm hit the boats shortly after the beginning of the race and, as a result, a member of the Angolan Team, Mr. Antonio Joao Bartolomeu, lost his life. What do you

remember of those tragic moments? At those latitudes, when a weather front comes from the South Seas, the wind is very strong and the sea is really heavy. Nevertheless, the storm was not impossible to manage, even if the boats were hit by violent blasts of wind. According to the weather forecasts, it was clear that the front would be strong. Furthermore, many yachts competed in the regatta and with such a large number of participants the likelihood of an accident is very high. As you said, Cape Town is a beautiful place. What were your impressions of the city? What can you tell us about how you were welcomed by the South Africans? My impression is excellent! I also had the chance to sail along the coasts of the Western Cape for several kilometres, a trip

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that showed me the beauty of the region. Besides, it is not the first time that I have been to Cape Town, a beautiful and charming city, which I visited on the occasion of my two single-handed races. Both times I remained in Cape Town for one month, a period that gave me the opportunity to discover the place and to meet good friends.

In the past, the Cape of Good Hope has been the scenario of great sea endeavours. What did you feel when sailing its waters? The first time that I sailed the waters of Cape Town was in 1994, many years ago. Certainly it has been a great emotion, both entering in its harbour and leaving it to continue my journey around the world. Cape Town was the first stopover during my first single-handed race, the gate to the Southern Seas. The Maserati Team is ready to tackle the North Atlantic crossing between New York and Lizard Point (UK) which will take you through the icebergs of Newfoundland, one of the toughest sailing routes in the world. How are you preparing for this new record attempt? After the great satisfaction of the Cape2Rio, we are trying to set the new record of the North Atlantic crossing, from New York to the southernmost tip of Great Britain. Currently the record is held by Mari Cha IV, the 40 meters maxi-schooner, which covered the distance in 2003, manned by twentythree crew, in 6 days, 17, hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds. Maserati is a much smaller boat and this record will be very difficult to beat. Nevertheless, we are waiting for the perfect weather window and we are sure that we can make it! â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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An Italian masterpiece at the tip of Africa Morgenster wine and olive estate ph Alain Proust

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Owner Giulio Bertrand with the Flos Olei 2014 trophy for his Morgenster extra virgin olive oil which achieved the top score of 98/100

“When I first saw Morgenster it was love at first sight. I have never felt so attracted to a place like I was with Morgenster”

Morgenster olive groves

iulio Bertrand, the Italian owner of the wine and olive estate in Somerset West outside Cape Town in South Africa leans forward. “Then some years after I came here, I found out that the ancestors of the Huguenot settler who first bought and established Morgenster in 1711 originated in the valleys of

Piedmont where I also come from!” He smiles. Morgenster did well to attract this particular Italian settler to its unique location. Since 1992 it has been flourishing under Bertrand’s vision, energy and commitment to excellence which have attracted world attention to its extra virgin olive oil and wellaged Bordeaux style wines.

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interview We are sitting in Bertrand’s comfortable study in the manor house on the Estate. One of the first things he did when moving to Morgenster was to preserve and decorate the beautiful historic buildings with the help of interior designer Graham Viney and architect Revel Fox. Then he turned his attention to the farm: “When I first considered farming I thought I would make some good Italian styled olive oil for

my salad and some nice wine to enjoy with my dinner…” After doing a systematic mapping of the farm’s terroir and all its aspects he realised that his farm had the potential to produce red wine of extraordinary quality. So, having had a lifelong philosophy of producing only the best, he focused his desire on producing world class Bordeaux-styled wine and the highest quality olive oil.

Morgenster vineyards

For the past nine years Morgenster extra virgin olive oil has gained top international awards. Then, at the end of 2013 it received the top score of 98 points out of a possible 100 in the Flos Olei 2014 competition which assesses the world’s best olive oils. The estate also received the “Made with Love” award in the listing of the world’s 20 best farms (www. flosolei.com). Bertrand went to Rome to accept the award.

“Being one of only 11 oil producers in the world and the only one in South Africa to achieve 98/100, the highest score ever given to an oil by such a top international panel of judges, made me very proud to bring the award home to South Africa”, he says. The blue glass trophy is displayed in Morgenster’s tasting room where the visitors can enjoy tastings of olive oils and olives and vertical tastings of early vintages of its red wines.

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Giulio Bertrand’s home, the Morgenster manor house

Morgenster tasting room

Bertrand follows European practice by releasing his Morgenster flagship and Lourens River Valley red blends only when they have had the benefits of ageing perfectly. A small portion is released after four years to highlight the vintage’s quality and potential but the balance is saved to age under pristine conditions in the Morgenster cellar for later release in batches.

Each year the Estate’s winemaking team tastes through all the vintages to monitor their progression with Pierre Lurton, Morgenster’s consultant winemaker who is the CEO of Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau d’Yquem. Bertrand says that the matured wines, going back to 1998, are now

showing their personalities and the complexities which ageing allows to develop. “They are still youthful and can age for years to come. We have large quantities of early vintages, which is unique in South Africa”, he says.

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Bertrand is currently occupied with developing more visitor facilities to complement the tasting room adjoining the winery and maturation cellar. “We were in the final design stage when the Lourens River, which flows through the farm, flooded Somerset West in September 2013. We had to scrap our plans as they fell within the 100 year flood plain”. Bertrand, being a lifelong sailor, changed tack and started planning from scratch. He smiles as he paraphrases Pliny: “There is always something new out of Morgenster” ◆

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The Cradle of Humankind: the Italian Archeological and Paleo-anthropological mission Prof. Jacopo Moggi Cecchi

The excavations have brought to light a deposit rich in faunal remains, including two extinct species of hominids, the ancestors of the human lineage

peaking of South Africa to those unfamiliar with this country usually invokes images (maybe seen on television) of elephants and lions in the Kruger National Park, the emblem of South Africa or Cape Town with the Table Mountains, or Kimberley diamond chimney, symbolizing the wealth of raw materials of South Africa. However there is another aspect, perhaps less known, but for which South Africa, from a scientific point of view, is one of the most important countries in the world: its wealth of fossil sites in which, over the last 80 years, the remains of several species of hominids - the ancestors of our species - were discovered, allowing us to document

the earliest phases of human evolution, starting at about 3 million years ago. It is the country where the research of paleoanthropology - the science that studies the origin and evolution of humans - have unearthed thousands of fossils not only of hominids, but also of many other types of animals, thus contributing to draw a relatively accurate picture of the anatomy of our ancestors, their way of life, the environment in which they moved, and even, in some cases, the earliest forms of tools they used. The wealth and importance of the South African heritage is such that in 1999 the area near Johannesburg in which the main archaeological and paleontological sites are located

All the bone fragments are retrieved with care

(also known as “The Cradle of Humankind”) was named by UNESCO as a World heritage site - “the Fossil Hominid sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs”, and thus recognized as part of the cultural heritage not only of South Africa but of all humanity. Among these sites one of the most interesting is the Drimolen site, discovered in 1992, and very rich in terms of fossil remains. At the site of Drimolen since 2006 is active the “Italian Archaeological and Paleo-anthropological Mission in South Africa”, co-financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and with the support of the Italian Embassy in South Africa and the Italian Cultural Institute.

The Director of the Italian mission is prof. Jacopo Moggi Cecchi, from the Department of Biology, at the University of Florence. The project takes place in collaboration between Italian institutions (University of Florence, University of Pisa), South Africa (Dr. Colin Menter, head of the South African project, University of Johannesburg) and other countries (USA, England, Australia). The excavations have been running continuously and on an annual basis, for a period of 2-3 weeks. These campaigns involve researchers (Italian and South African) and South African university students together with students from all over Italy. The ultimate goal of the Mission is the knowledge, preservation and especially the

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Some remains of rodents and insectivores have a very small size

The most important fossil discovered at Drimolen: the complete skull of a female individual of the species Paranthropus robustus - ph Colin Menter Examples of bone tools found at the site - ph Backwell and dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Errico, 2008

An exceptional find: the arm bone of an infant of a hominid

promotion of the paleo-anthropological and archaeological sites in this area. In addition, among the priorities of the project are also the conservation of the site, its promotion at a national and international level for a use to a wider audience, and the training of South African students. To this end, every year there are lectures for South African university students held by the Italian members of the mission and visits to other paleontological sites in the area and at the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collections in Johannesburg and Pretoria. The fossils come from paleontological and archaeological sediments accumulated in caves over millions of years.

The set of faunal remains (Carnivors, Antelopes of various size, insectivores, rodents and even hominids) has allowed us to estimate the age of the deposits to a period between 1.5 and 2 million years ago. Two species of fossil hominids have been recognized at Drimolen: Paranthropus robustus, (a side branch of the human evolutionary line), and a species yet to be named, but attributable to the our genus Homo. The archaeological remains are represented by bone tools. They are among the first evidences of a very primitive form of culture, used for purposes that have yet to be exactly understood.

The fieldwork is accompanied by research in the laboratory, which often makes use of very advanced technologies. Among these it is worth mentioning the collaboration with the Synchrotron in Trieste for non-destructive research on the internal structure of fossil specimens, a project held as part of the Executive Program of Scientific and Technological Co-operation between Italy and South Africa. It is a fascinating research, that every each year reserves exciting new discoveries and opens up new research perspectives. This research represents not only the study of human origins in South Africa, but also the study of its cultural heritage, of its own people, and of all the humanity â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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BRONZE CASTING IN PRETORIA, an ANCIENT ITALIAN CRAFTMANSHIP by Claudio D’Agostini - ph Pietro Petrini

Edoardo Villa, Reclining Figure, Vignali Artistic Foundry

ome of the most famous public monuments in South Africa, as well as works of many contemporary South African artists, were cast by the oldest artistic foundry in the country, started by Renzo Vignali, who came from Italy in the 1930s. The foundry in Pretoria is still run by his descendants and now specializes in casting the works of the most renowned artists of South Africa. Not many people know that Pretoria is the home of the oldest artistic foundry in South Africa. It all started in Italy in the late 1920s when Italian sculptor Raffaello Romanelli was selected among some hundred artists to

Rhona Stern, Birds, Vignali Artistic Foundry

create the equestrian monument to South Africa’s first Prime Minister, Louis Botha. The monument was cast in bronze by the “Artistic Foundry Gusmano Vignali” in Florence and in 1930 was shipped to Cape Town, where it stands in front of the Houses of Parliament. At the time, Gusmano Vignali was the head of the family and the firm. Times were tough during the Great Depression of the 1930s so the family decided to try their luck abroad. In 1930, Gusmano’s son Rolando left for Montevideo (Uruguay), where he started the first artistic foundry on the Latin American subcontinent. Then it was Renzo’s turn, the other son. In 1927 he had met in Italy Anton

van Wouw, the Dutch-born sculptor regarded as the father of South African sculpture, who encouraged Renzo Vignali to come to South Africa. Renzo left Italy in 1931 and settled in Johannesburg, where after two years he started his own foundry. The city, however, was not the right place to cast bronze sculptures, and in particular the big statues in which Vignali excelled: after the cooling of the metal, statues had to stay absolutely still for weeks and due to explosions in the gold mines, Johannesburg was shaken by daily tremors. Renzo decided to move to Pretoria. The success of the casting brought fame to the Vignali foundry, which soon became very busy and needed to expand. In 1942, Renzo began the construction of a new building in

Pretoria North and, since the foundry needed manpower for the expanding business, in the same year Renzo employed six Italian prisoners of war from Zonderwater Camp near Pretoria, the biggest detention camp built by the Allies during World War II. From April 1941 to January 1947, the camp held more than 100 000 Italian soldiers captured by the British on the Northern and East African Fronts. Among them was Luigi Gamberini, who remained in South Africa after the war and married Renzo’s daughter, Gabriella, taking the reins of the firm after the passing of his father-in-law. A new era of the company’s activity began when the Italian artist, Edoardo Villa, himself a former prisoner of war at Zonderwater, came to the foundry asking to cast his modernist sculptures.

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Edoardo Villa, Self Portrait, 1943. Vignali Artistic Foundry

Edoardo Villa, The Violin Player, 1943. Vignali Artistic Foundry

Born in Italy in 1915, Edoardo Villa had studied sculpture in Milan and Rome, before being taken prisoner during the war and brought to South Africa. After his release in 1947 he remained in the country where he practiced as a sculptor, becoming one of the most important artists in South Africa. During his long and successful career, Villa experimented with different styles and materials: from traditional methods of sculpting with clay and marble to the bronze and steel that later became his signature materials. During the sixties, Villa increasingly used heavy steel elements to fashion solid anthropomorphic shapes, while his modeled figures began to incorporate the symbolism of African carving. In his later years, his work evolved further with his exploration of other materials such as the more resistant polystyrene.

Thanks to the celebrity of Villa, from the late fifties onwards, famous artists like Sol Disner and Sidney Harpley had their work cast by Luigi Gamberini, as did a number of young black artists: Dumile Feni, Sidney Kumalo, Ezrom Legae, Ben Arnold, and Percy Konqobe, all of whom became renowned South African sculptors. The foundry, therefore, played a central role in the development of a black art in the country, representing an ideal space for young and talented artists, while continuing to work for Edoardo Villa and other masters such as William Kentridge and Deborah Bell. Carlo and Lorenzo Gamberini, Luigiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sons, now run the foundry, which only casts for a limited number of the most prominent artists, using the same century-old, Italian tradition of the lost-wax technique â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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“A CERA PERSA”: casting metal by loosing WAX

3. The entire piece is covered with a thick coat to create a shell

The shell is broken off to separate it from bronze

From the original model a mould is made

To the wax model is added a treelike network of wax rods

he casting of metal objects goes back to prehistoric times; first copper was used, then bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, which was stronger and more durable. While ancient Greeks and Etruscans brought the art of casting close to perfection and the Romans continued the tradition, the art was almost lost during the Middle Ages, until it was revived by the Italian Renaissance. This is the century-old technique of casting that is still practiced at the foundry established by Renzo Vignali. A visit to the workshop is a journey back to the Renaissance.

How is a bronze sculpture made? The sculpture is first made by the artist in clay or another material, and then is delivered to the foundry. A mould is made from the original model (picture 1), which is then used to create a perfect copy of the sculpture in wax. The wax is only a thin layer, no more than a few millimeters thick. A treelike network of wax rods, called sprues, is added to the wax model (picture 2). Later these will be melted, leaving a channel system through which the molten metal will flow to all parts of the sculpture, while gases and air can, in turn, be expelled. A pouring cup is attached to the sprues.

Then the entire piece is covered with a thick coat of clay, which, once dry, becomes a hard, robust shell around the entire sculpture (picture 3). The shell is then turned upside down and placed in a kiln at high temperature in order to melt the wax, that flows out thus becoming “lost” (“a cera persa” in Italian). This is where the name “lost-wax process” derives. The lost-wax leaves a thin space between the outer shell and the inner material, which is then filled with molten bronze. It’s now that the key moment of the entire process starts. The bronze melted in a pot is poured into the shell and through the sprues, filling the thin space left by the lost wax (picture 4). Once bronze and shell have cooled, the shell is broken off. The sprues, which have been recreated in metal, are also cut off (picture 5). The final stage of the work is the polishing of the statue until all signs of the casting process are removed and the statue looks like the original model (picture 6). The result is the astonishing perfection that characterizes all the works cast by the sons of Luigi Gamberini at the foundry. An ancient art, lost-wax casting, still lives in Pretoria in the same way it has been practiced for centuries in Italy, producing some of the finest works of art in present-day South Africa ◆

The bronze melted in a pot is poured into the shell

6. The final stage of the work is the polishing of the statue

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THE STORY OF A NEW-OLD FRIEND OF THE ITALIAN EMBASSY by Gerardo De Maio

Mr. Mahlangu with Mr. Samson Baloyi - ph by Pietro Petrini

The Ambassador of Italy Mr. Vincenzo Schioppa with Mr. Tshepo Mashlangu - ph by Pietro Petrini

Tshepo Mahlangu is a black South African who, during the apartheid regime, had the opportunity to study at the University of Zululand thanks to the financial support of the Italian Embassy in Pretoria. 25 years later he came back to his old friends to express his warmest gratitude to the Italian people

1. Why, in 1989, did you decide to come to the Italian Embassy? As a young man at that time, growing up in an apartheid South Africa like many young black people, I found myself in the war torn dusty streets of Mamelodi, a township situated about 20km east of Pretoria, destitute to create a future for myself. I had just completed my Matric with good results having studied through an apartheid education system called the Bantu Education, which was a very strong pillar of the apartheid regime. The then legislation was intended to separate black South Africans through a sub-standard education system from the main comparatively very well resourced education system for white South Africans. Not knowing what to do post Matric, someone told me about

the Italian Embassy, which was regarded as very sympathetic to our course of supporting a liberated South Africa wherein everyone cold be treated equal. I then decided to catch a collective taxi to reach the Embassy. 2. What are your memories of that day at the Embassy and in particular about the people you met? Well, at a time where Pretoria was a strictly white area, I expected to be arrested by the then South African Police since I did not have a permit to be in the city and did not even know anyone at the Italian Embassy. To my surprise, right from the reception area, I still remember being warmly greeted by Mr Samson Baloyi, who politely listened to my story and without hesitation took me to the

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Professor Pietro D’Onofrio

late Professor D’Onofrio (May his Soul rest in peace) who also gave me a very warm reception. In my brief meeting with him, I asked if the Embassy was in a position to assist me to further my studies and he requested me to give him my statement of symbols, that I graciously handed to him. Professor D’Onofrio then looked me in the eyes and said to me in a heavy Italian accent “What do you want to study, Mr Mahlangu?”. In a state of shock, I responded by saying: “I want to study BA Communications at the University of Zululand”. He picked up a phone and made a call to enquire if they would accept me at the University of Zululand. A few seconds later he came behind his desk to shake my hand and said to me: “Our Government will gladly assist you and pay for your studies up to the completion of your studies at the University of Zululand”. I left the Embassy, escorted by Mr Baloyi who sincerely congratulated me, in a joyful mood as my hope and pride had been restored and my dream fulfilled. 3. What did you do after your studies? On the strength of my good results and my good conduct at the University, I was recommended, before completing my third year, by the Head of Department and the Dean of Faculty of the University for a position of Media Liaison Officer at the then South African Communication Service, now known as the Government Communication and Information Service (GCIS). I duly accepted the offer. My proudest moment was being part of a team that contributed to the organization of special events like the first democratic elections in South Africa as well as the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as first black Head of State in the democratic South Africa. I subsequently enrolled for a Certificate in Industrial Product and Export Marketing with the University of South Africa (UNISA) in preparation to enter the private sector market. 4. How did your life change with the end of Apartheid? Looking back then, I may have been one of many South Africans who felt the full might of apartheid. I look back

Mr. Mahlangu as young student at the University of Zululand

with pride and joy and will forever be indebted to the Italian people and its government for their support. I am now a successful entrepreneur doing business mainly in South Africa. I am proud to have contributed towards upholding the legacy of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu (of whom I’m nephew), one of the struggle heroes who gave his life for a liberated South Africa. 5. Why did you decide to come back recently to the Embassy of Italy, and what can you tell us about the meeting? After many years of not being in touch with the Italian Embassy, in mid-August 2014 I decided to pay the Embassy a surprise visit. To my utter amazement, I was greeted again by Mr Samson Baloyi, who is still working at the reception area. Even if I had no appointment at all, within a few minutes I was received by the Ambassador Vincenzo Schioppa and I enjoyed a coffee with him and the Head of Protocol, Dr Francesco Angeloni, who also kindly embraced my presence. The warm and kind reception I received took me 25 years back, when I sat there my foot for the first time. During the meeting, the Ambassador shared with me the Embassy’s continued commitment to foster political, economic and cultural relations, cooperation and friendship between Italians and South Africans. I’m undoubtedly a living proof of such a friendship. 6. What have you inherited from this experience? The whole experience has taught me that sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life, but the key is that you must take that first step. I will forever remain a friend of the people of Italy for giving me a rare opportunity to pursue my studies at the University. I am planning to take my two kids to Italy soon and perhaps identify a project wherein we could plough back in return. Finally let me express once again my sincere gratitude to the Italian Government not only for the financial support during a time when all doors where closed, but for showing me kindness that has made me a man I am today. Thank you! ◆

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From cooperation to partnership: Oxfam Italia in South Africa Founded in Oxford, Great Britain, in 1942, Oxfam is now an international confederation of 17 organizations working in more than 90 countries worldwide in the field of development cooperation. Oxfam Italia is one of those 17 organizations by Oxfam Italia

andisile is a young craftsman from the township of Mdantsane, in the Eastern Cape Province near East London. As part of a project supported by Oxfam Italia, he attended five months vocational training at the ‘Mdantsane Art Centre’ and is now ready to became a teacher, sharing with other students his skills and passion. His story is about determination and talent, but it is also the story of the cooperation between the Italian and South African people. The birth in 1994 of the new democratic Republic of South Africa represented a crucial moment, not only for Madiba’s beloved country, but also for the entire world. The new government soon acknowledged the massive disparities within the population’s living conditions and the necessity to guide a transformational process to uplift the

underdeveloped areas and districts in the country. This led to a renewed interest on the part of various international non-governmental organisations and donors involved in international cooperation to alleviate poverty and suffering. Oxfam suported the liberation struggle from outside the country from the late 1960s, but was only able to establish a stable presence in the new South Africa after 1994. Oxfam Italia decided to make a contribution in 2008, by forging a synergy with the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other development agencies through a programme, led by the Region of Tuscany, aimed at linking the South African and Italian authorities. The four-year programme, called NETSAFRICA, supported the decentralization process in South Africa by promoting sustainable socio-economic development in some of the

most remote and marginalized areas of the country and by enhancing public participation in shaping local development plans. Several public and private South African institutions joined the programme, both at national and local level. In the wake of the success of the programme, Oxfam Italia decided to strengthen and extend the partnership between Italian and South African local institutions by planning further interventions in different developmental areas. Among them is a project financed by the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which focuses on early childhood development in partnership with the Buffalo City Municipality. Another programme, funded by the European Union and run in coordination with the the Buffalo City and City of Tshwane Municipalities, focus on the promotion of the creative industry and it has been successfully concluded*. More recent initiatives focus on the waste and energy recovery sector and green economy. The project GET ANSWERS, co-funded by the European Union, has been implemented together with the Ekurhuleni Municipality in order to scaleup one of the pilot initiatives of NETSAFRICA concerned with waste management in the informal settlements of Tembisa. Finally, a multi-country project, ‘Maternal and Child Health: Local Authorities and Decentralization in the SADC Area’, supported by the European Union, has also been implemented in partnership with the O. R. Tambo District Municipality, with the aim to support the national program on the prevention of HIV in the district. All these initiatives have successfully improved individual lives, such as Sandisili and many others like him, but have also improved the service delivery and local government’s

accountability. The key of their sustainability has been a strategy based on involving and engaging the relevant actors and institutions at a local level. But the most important result of these years of sharing hard work, experience and ideas goes beyond the mere success of the projects. In 2016, with the support of the other Oxfam organizations, Oxfam South Africa will join the Confederation as the local section, thus continuing the effort to improve the conditions of the most disadvantaged communities in the country. International cooperation has paved the way to a true partnership ◆

*These initiatives are respectively “Integrated Action for a sustainable community development in Buffalo City” and “Youth Empowerment through skills development and strengthened cultural identity

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Artist Proof Studio Sustainability through Creativity by Flaviana Zaccaria - ph Artist Proof Studio

Drawings from the journal of Nathi

From the Journal of Nathi (pictures 1-4)

pumi, Themba, Minekulu and Nathi are four graduate students from Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg who last year travelled to Italy for the first time. After visiting the “Biennale” in Venice, they exhibited

Printing of a member of Artist Proof Studio

their artworks on the occasion of South Africa’s Youth Day at the Galleria Luigi de Sarro (one of the most renowned contemporary art galleries in Rome), and painted a mural on the Isola Tiberina, during the “Isola del Cinema Festival.”

15 June, Rome. The flight was long flight but we are finally in Rome. After settling in a bed-and-breakfast, we get ready to go to Venice: a day to relax before starting what we came here for. 19 June, Rome (at Gallery Luigi de Sarro). The exhibition was a success! There were a lot of people that came to see our artworks. Our job is not yet finished, and it is not yet time to relax and enjoy Rome: there is still the mural to paint and so little time! (at the Isola Tiberina) The place looks amazing, the river is right behind us! We started drawing the image on the canvas […]. We were quite happy with how people responded to us painting there. They were stopping to ask questions and added their own stroke to the mural. […] People of all ages, painted with us as the night progressed. Finally, the mural is finished, absolutely beautiful!

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Some printings of the members of Artist Proof Studio

The painting of the mural in the Isola Tiberina, Rome

Nhlanhla Xaba at a workshop in 1997

A printing of the well-known artist William Kentridge

One of the biggest questions that Mpumi, Themba, Nathi and Minenkulu asked themselves before flying abroad was how they were going to reach out to the community. What common ground could be found? So, as Nathi told us, they started wondering which one of their works they should bring, not sure that the people in Italy would understand it. They wondered: “Maybe this is too African”, or “It’s too much of a cliché”. ‘But then, Mpumi explains, “the night when we were painting the mural, [the Italian passers-by] started to relate to what we were doing. We welcomed them to paint with us, and that’s when the dialogue began”. Stories were exchanged, and the borders they initially thought would be there, gradually fell away.

It is this cohesion, this intercultural dialogue and the concept of crossing borders that formed the core idea that grew in Kim Berman and Nhlanhla Xaba’s minds when they opened Artist Proof Studio - a school that teaches students the art of printmaking, drawing and other techniques. At the moment they have about 80 students. The requirements for admission are simple: a good portfolio that exhibits skills and talent, and proof of an economically disadvantaged condition. Artist Proof Studio offers a three-year course of professional development training, where the students learn to be selfsufficient artists, ready and able to sustain themselves using their skills. But how did Artist Proof Studio start? And is it just another art school? Not quite….

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The laboratory

Social activities with children and students

Some of the artworks after the fire

Just before the birth of democracy in South Africa, in 1991, Kim and Nhlanhla asked themselves: “What would a nonracial democratic artistic space look like? How would one create such a space?” It would have to be a space where artists could start imagining a new future. “So”, Kim tells us, “it was really a project built to bring artists to start thinking about where we were going as a country.” Kim, having returned to South Africa after apprenticing and studying for seven years in Boston, joined forces with Nhlanhla, who brought in a group of artists looking for a place to work. “For a while”, Kim continues, “it was really gathering of people thinking about the future […] we became a kind of hub of printmaking.” Artist Proof attracted artist from the surrounding townships, also offering workshops in many of the community art centres teaching students to be printmakers. The Studio has in fact always been actively engaged in the social sector, as witnessed by many campaigns on HIV/AIDS, gender advocacy and xenophobia. As Kim said, “We want our students to be active citizens; they do not just learn how to be good printmakers. It is also about understanding their environment and impacting on their world.” The first big project came in 1995, on the occasion of the first Africa’s Biennale held in Newtown: an exchange programme involving forty artists from nine countries. The space that

was given to Artist Proof to exhibit its artworks later became its own atelier until 2003, when a fire broke out, due to an electric fault. This not only destroyed printings and material, but also claimed the life of Nhlanhla Xaba, who was sleeping overnight in the studio. The city took responsibility, and provided them with a new space: the old bus terminal called the Bus Factory, in Newtown. This is where Artist Proof is still located: a place with a gallery, a professional printing studio, a large education unit and a special projects area, with numerous outreach activities, and an administration office. Through all of that, the Studio manages to generate enough income to be proudly selfsustainable. It has been a long journey to get to this point. In 2010, after the collapse of the Sector Education and Training Authority (the national institution that subsidised the skills training of many students), Artist Proof - like many other community arts organizations - was left without funding. The Studio Board of Directors then decided to change the strategy: with the help of all the partners, they held a big auction of works from the collection, thus realising that the sales could assist the studio to provide for themselves. In the following years, the Board of Directors led the Studio towards financial empowerment and growth. Its different strategies for fundraising include corporate partnerships, patronages, university and international partners, such as

Artist Proof Studio and Arte Vita

the Boston Art Academy, with which they have an exchange program for students and lecturers. “And, of course”, as Kim explains, “the Board consistently guides us and provides mentorship to each of the five managers in the studio, assisting us to promote marketing and visibility. Gianni plays a huge role in helping us to be visible out there and facing the world”. Gianni Mariano, to whom Kim refers, is a member of the board of directors and has been involved in the activities of the studio for the last ten years. A successful businessman, marketing expert and founder of the brands “Mastrantonio” and “ArteVita”, he provides Artist Proof Studio with strategic input, including its marketing development, and identifying new opportunities, like the exhibition in Italy and the mural for the Festival “Isola del Cinema” in Rome. Although Artist Proof Studio has accomplished much, it’s

always a work in progress. As Kim explains, “We are still developing in parallel with our country; it is something that you never complete, but it is something you keep striving for. I think that moving forward, is the most important thing.” About the future, in the words of Gianni “the vision is that Artist Proof Studio will be recognised as the African equivalent of the great International Art Academies, because what happens here is the ground-breaker: we haven’t imitated anyone. What happens here is innovative, it is new, it is real, and it talks to a society that is also new. The interaction and the social cohesion in this place make it possible to go overseas and cross borders, and make social cohesion a reality. Because Artist Proof Studio is the projection of South Africa at its very best, and it is what South Africa is going to be” ◆

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Mosaic Arts: a story of passion and devotion ph Mosaic Art

ut of war-torn Italy, two young people would travel over eight thousand kilometres to start a new life and bring their passion and skill for art and mosaic to create original, classic mosaics in South Africa. Born less than five kilometres apart in the province of Pordenone, in the foothills of the Italian Alps, Renato and Vera would only meet more than twenty years later. Renato Giovitto was born in Castelnovo Del Friuli on 17 September 1934, and as a young man attended the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli in the town of Spilimbergo. Here he learned his trade as a mosaic artisan and terrazzo specialist. As work in post-war Europe was scarce, he migrated to South Africa in 1958 in search of better prospects. After three years,

mosaic arts

Leopard, 1500 x 800 mm, Pretoria (2001)

he went home to Italy on a six-week holiday. On the occasion he met and fell soon in love with Vera, the girl of his dreams, at the time 19 years old. During the following two years, Vera and Renato were only able to communicate by letter, both saving enough money for Vera to make the journey to South Africa. For an entire year, after dreaming about the numbers on a billboard, Vera had played the same numbers in the Totocalcio football pools, predicting the scores of the teams playing that week. At the end of 1963, Vera resolved to place her final bet in order to save every last lira for her impending trip. She was absolutely astounded when a telegram arrived advising her that she had won the pools! At last she was able to depart for South Africa on 7 July 1964 and to marry

his beloved boyfriend on 9 August in Durban, where they started living together. All Veraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artistic knowledge was self-taught. Vera saved for correspondence courses in drawing and art encyclopaedias. Newly married, she continued with her artistic expression and earned a small income from her oil paintings. Renato introduced her to mosaic, allowing her to find another medium through which to express her passion for art. In 1966 Vera fell pregnant with Lina, that was born on 17 November 1966. In January 1967 the young family moved to Pretoria where Renato had taken on a few small mosaic commissions and Vera stepped in to help. Their second daughter Marina was born on 29 June 1971. Six months later

Vera received her first solo commission. In South Africa there was no availability of smalti (handmade traditional Venetian glass mosaic tesserae or tiles used since 500AD), so Renato and Vera used local vitreous glass mosaic. A salesman from a glass company, Glamosa Glass in Escort, heard of Vera and asked if she would consider making patterns of dolphins for swimming pools. Veraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first designs were of friendly dolphins in different sizes and poses. To this she added octopuses, a Bridget Bardot-inspired mermaid, moonfish and starfish. Renato and Vera decided to buy a piece of land in the newly-established industrial area of Silvertondale on the eastern outskirts of Pretoria where they built a very large

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mosaic arts

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Emperors Domain, Octavia’s pool 2000 x 7000, Johannesburg (2001)

Elephant, 1900 x 2700 mm, Phalaborwa (2000)

building. The family brain-stormed a name for the expanding business, and Lina’s suggestion of Mosaic Arts was chosen. The success of the dolphin, mermaid and other sea creature designs endures due to their quality and unaffected simplicity. Since those early days, Mosaic Arts dolphins have been shipped all over South Africa, and further afield to Greece, Australia, Mozambique and Mauritius, to name but a few. As the team received requests for custom-made designs, a new unexpected market began to emerge for school badges. The business then expanded to produce murals and floors for churches, private homes, hotels, casinos and banks. In 1989 Vera was diagnosed with cancer. In spite of this terrible news she continued to work consistently. She always says that part of her own therapy was to never miss a day’s work. The cancer remains in remission to this day. Golden Sisters, 1150 x 800 mm, Johannesburg (2006)

The Palace of the Lost City pool, Sun City (1993)

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ZONDERWATER left and right: 900 x 1200 mm, Pretoria (1987) The Zonderwater Prisoner of War camp, situated outside Cullinan near Pretoria, housed some 90.000 Italian prisoners of war captured in Libya, Abyssinia and Somaliland during the Second World War. Far from their native Italy, the prisoners were well-treated in South Africa and played a role in improving living conditions by building roads and working on forms. By the time of their departure after the war, many had fond memories of their stay, and later returned to South Africa setting up permanent residence. Vera has many friends who were prisoners of war from the Zonderwater camp. The Italian Prisoner of War Cemetery of Zonderwater is still today a subject of great interest to local Italians who commemorate their lost loved ones annually in November, very similar to the Remembrance of Armistice Day ceremonies observed in Europe. A museum on the property houses artefacts made by the prisoners of war, with two dramatic mosaic murals translated by Vera from a prisoner of war publication. The mosaics reflect the suffering both of soldiers and civilians during the Second World War - the war that was not only the most widespread in history, but also by far the deadliest conflict in all of human history.

After obtaining a Bachelor Degree in Architecture from the University of Pretoria in 1993 and fourty years after her father graduated from the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli in Spilimbergo, the daughter Marina had the opportunity to attend the same school for a three-month learnership and made then the decision to work alongside her parents. In August 1995, Renato and Marina were involved in a car accident less than 20km from their home. Renato was killed instantly, but Marina emerged unharmed. Devastating by this loss, the family grappled with how they would continue without Renato. Vera and Marina resolved to roll up their sleeves and together make the business work. Marina married Gavin Ehlers in 1996 who shortly thereafter implemented their computer system and

website. The team synergy that has developed over the past 15 years is responsible for the continued success of the business. The main prize of the Italian Ambassadorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Perennial Trophy charity regatta is also a finest mosaic artwork made by Mosaic Arts. On the occasion of the 2013 Business Excellence Awards, an annual ceremony promoted by the Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industry, the Italian Ambassador Vincenzo Schioppa presented the Honorary Chairperson Award to Vera Giovitto, in recognition of the sophisticated mastery of mosaic brought by the artist to South Africa. Veraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nephews spend many afternoons after school at Mosaic Arts: the seeds have been laid from which the desire to bear the family business may some day sprout... â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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Cape Classic, a FEAST for all senses! The unique chamber music festival, with its intimate nature and international artists, takes place every year in front of wonderful landscapes and in prestigious venues like the Italian Residence ph Trevor Wilkins

cape classic T

he love of classical music and enthusiasm for South Africa were Gabi Zahn’s motivation to found, ten years ago, an annual chamber music festival in the winelands of the Western Cape. The bases of these festivals are compositions of the baroque, classical and romantic eras, often including rarities by unknown and forgotten composers of the same periods. Cape Classic, you will not offer mundane programmes! Famous instrumentalists who have performed for Cape Classic are Daniel Müller-Schott (violoncello) and Igor Levit (piano), to name just two of the approximately ninety musicians who have come to South Africa. Jochen Kupfer (baritone), Tobias Bernd (baritone), Franziska Gottwald (alto) and Katja Stuber (soprano), amongst others, also performed at the festival. All

artists declined a performance fee and volunteered to work for Cape Classic without remuneration. Only in this way were we able to generate a surplus of the ticket sales in order to assist selected social projects which support township children. Since 2005 the Non-Profit Organisation Cape Classic e.V. has donated more than €70000 to various projects for underprivileged children. Cape Classic has paid school fees for orphans, English lessons for Afrikaans speaking children and study fees for highly talented students. Cape Classic also bought school uniforms for the poorest. In addition Cape Classic, consciously and with enjoyment, practises an active cultural exchange by building human and cultural bridges through our master classes with students

from South Africa and through our school concerts with the pupils of Khayamandi, a township in Stellenbosch. The season 2015 starts on 11 February and ends on 21 February with a matinée in Casa Labia, where Italian charm encounters the turquoise seaside. In such picturesque surroundings, our audiences get together with our excellent and internationally renowned artists against a backdrop of beautiful vineyards with their welcoming Cape Dutch homesteads, historical wine estates and impressive manor houses,- forgetting the usual hype of an international festival! Without a doubt, our concerts at Morgenster, Babylonstoren and in the residences of both the Italian and the German and Ambassadors are THE highlights of every festival season! Following a personal invitation from the Ambassador of Italy, who is hosting Cape Classic in 2015 for the third time, our audience cannot wait to be guests in the breath-taking Italian Residence with its beautiful garden and to listen to excellent chamber music at the foot of Table Mountain!

Here Cape Classic, “The Magic of Music”, feels at home and the audience not only enjoys the magical atmosphere, but is also ‘pampered’ by the Ambassador in person, who regularly treats the guests with his own receipts, including some special ‘penne all’arrabbiata’ after the concert. Hospitality, surroundings, excellent food and wines blend together to create a fantastic, unforgettable atmosphere, comparable with a well composed symphony! Far away from the big cultural centres of European metropolises, but in the region of Cape Town there is a piece of paradise at Africa’s most southerly point, where the environment is as unique as the audience. Once described by one of our musicians; “Nature, vastness and this wonderful silence, this is the ideal spot, as musicians and audience are in an ideal frame of mind to make and to listen to music. It is as ideal as true love and also as rare!” ◆ More on www.cape-classic.com

EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE SKA - SQUARE KILOMETER ARRAY THE LARGEST RADIO-TELESCOPE EVER!

n the 20th Century, humankind discovered its place in the Universe and the telescopes revealed an expanding Universe with billions of galaxies, stars of all sizes and temperatures, neutron stars as well as planets and gas clouds. In the 21st Century, astronomers and the scientific world will seek to fully understand the complete evolution of the Universe and its constituents. To achieve this ambitious goal, a new generation of astronomical facilities, telescopes and radiotelescopes is needed. The Square kilometer Array (SKA), was made possible and affordable thanks to recent, innovative technological developments both in computing and radio frequency devices. The SKA will therefore play a major role, with an unprecedented large radio wave collecting area, 50 times more sensitive and with a 10 000 times faster ability to survey the sky, than any radio telescope array previously built. The SKA, by observing a large volume of the Universe will answer many of the fundamental questions we are asking now and many others we do not even know we have. In other words the SKA will be the world’s premier imaging and surveying telescope with a combination of new high versatility and sensitivity that will open up new windows of

ALMA Array - Chajnantor Plateau - Chile (courtesy of EIE GROUP/L. Fardella)

discovery. To achieve this the SKA will use thousands (3000 approximately) of dishes each being 15 metres in diameter on one square kilometer collecting area, all connected by high bandwidth optical fiber. The radio antennas will be partly sited in South Africa and partly hosted in Australia. Rather than just grouped in a region, the radio-antennas will be arranged in multiple spiral arm configurations, creating what is known as a long baseline interferometer array. The spiral layout design was preferred after a detailed study by scientists in how to optimize the configuration to get the best possibly results. This interferometry technique, will enable astronomers to emulate a telescope with a size equal to the maximum separation between the telescopes in the array, or just the distance between a subset of telescopes or multiple subsets of the main array. Every single telescope will be connected to a central core which will combine the data that will be then carried around the globe by high speed links, to the computers of scientists working on this immense amounts of information, gathered by the world’s largest radio telescope. The project will be organized into two phases. Construction of Phase 1 will take place from 2018 to 2023 providing an operational array of telescopes capable of SKA at night - Dishes pointing towards the stars (courtesy of SKA Organization)

carrying out the first science in low and mid frequencies. Phase 2 and the high frequency dishes completion will then follow providing full sensitivity for frequencies up to 20 GHz. The SKA Project is a collaboration between institutions in 20 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. The collaboration is led by an international committee and further countries have expressed their interest in joining the SKA Organization. So far, around 100 organizations have been participating in the design and the development of the SKA and are now engaged in the detailed design of the telescope. Among them Italy and the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica Italiana (INAF) are part of the European SKADS Project (SKA Design Study), operating within the Sixth EU framework program and belonging to the so-called Dish Consortium, which share the endeavor with other SKA consortia and industry groups each contributing to defined activities. During 2013 EIE GROUP (www.eie.it), concluding a ten years effort on the ALMA Project, (the largest radio telescope in existence at the moment, with an array of 66 12m radio antennas on

the Chajnantor Plateau, Chile), renewed its engagement into radio astronomy by joining the SKA Dish Consortium (SKADC) in cooperation with, SAM S.c.r.l. According to the agreement, started in June 2013, the two Italian companies are now part of the SKA DC and specifically they are in charge of providing it with System Engineering and Management services and Prototype realization. The SKA Dish Consortium, with its 14 international members, is already responsible for the complete dish work package, which includes the design, verification and procurement of the antenna structure, optics, instruments as well as all the supporting systems and infrastructures. One of the greatest challenges of the dish element of the SKA undoubtedly lies in the mass production scale of the project. Producing thousands units of a 15m wide - cutting edge technology telescope is indeed an unprecedented technical and engineering endeavor, that requires the very best price to performance ratio to be sought. EIE is honored to put its experience at SKA DC’s disposal and to take part to such an amazing Project in the South African land, which can count on the important support of international players and government institutions like the Italian Embassy ◆ www.skatelescope.org

Preparation of glue which is weighed and samples sent for lab tests (courtesy of ESO/M. Alexander)

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The Square Kilometre Array Project & Italy-South Africa Research Collaboration by Mattia Vaccari - ph Courtesy of SKA South Africa

n a 2013 southern winter night, Michael Lesetja would never have thought that he would begin a journey to become part of one of the world’s largest science projects. Originally from South Africa’s rural Limpopo, Michael worked in Johannesburg assembling electronic components. Yet, after seeing a television programme featuring opportunities to join a South African team working on a future radio telescope to be based in the Great Karoo and a short visit to an Internet Café’, he was on his way to become part of the Square Kilometre Array Project. Michael applied for a position as a trainee electronics technician, and since January

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Computer Image of the completed SKA South African core in the Karoo

Lesetja at work at the SKA South African core site in the Karoo

2014 he has been shadowing technicians responsible for telescope maintenance in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape. The expanses of South Africa’s Great Karoo desert are not generally associated with cutting-edge scientific research or technological infrastructure. And rural villages in the area did not have much to offer their youth in terms of educational facilities or job opportunities. Yet both are rapidly materializing as a consequence of the multi-billion-Euro project in which a large number of international partners, including South Africa and Italy, are participating. Although still in its infancy, the project has already contributed to increasing educational opportunities in the

Carnarvon area, for example providing computer labs and teacher training to local schools and boosting the local Internet connectivity. The Square Kilometre Array, or SKA, (ww.skatelescope. org) is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope, with a total collecting area of one square kilometre, or one million square metres. First conceived in the early 1990s, only in 2012 it was decided that the distributed array of radio telescopes will be jointly hosted by South Africa and its partner African countries (70%) and Australia (30%). Given the cost, size and complexity of the project, the construction will be split into a Phase 1 (2018-

2013) and a Phase 2 (2023-2030), and telescope operations would then continue at least until 2050. The core of the SKA’s African instrument will be located in South Africa’s Great Karoo desert, close to the town of Carnarvon in the Northern Cape, but sparsely distributed radio dishes will extend across the African continent and adjacent islands, as far as Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar and Mauritius. The remote and scattered location of the radio dishes will pose formidable engineering challenges in a number of areas such as digital electronics, power generation, data storage, transfer and processing. For this reason, a substantial fraction of the SKA budget is being allocated to

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The KAT7 prototype at the SKA South African core site in the Karoo

technological development programmes bringing together academia and the industry. When compared with existing radio telescopes, the SKA thus represents a huge leap forward in astronomical instrumentation and it is expected to deliver a correspondingly transformational increase in research capabilities when operational. It is hoped that it will shed light on some of the most interesting questions of modern astronomical enquiry. Does Einstein’s 100-year old and surprisingly resilient Relativity Theory hold up to its most stringent tests to date? When and how did the first luminous objects form soon after the Big Bang? How did stars and black holes within galaxies evolve jointly over cosmic time? Do nearby stars emit radio waves that could be associated with intelligent life? Perhaps more importantly, the SKA will open a new window on the Universe that will certainly allow us to make discoveries we cannot now even imagine.

South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF, www.nrf. ac.za) and Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF, www.inaf.it) are two of the founding partners of the SKA Organisation, which includes eleven members in total. The two countries have thus had a chance to forge a productive working relationship involving, not only scientists and engineers, but also key industrial partners. South Africa will of course have a central role in developing local infrastructure as well as in managing telescope operations, and the Italian SKA Industry Consortium, including Finmeccanica and Telespazio as well as a significant number of SMEs, was formed in 2011 to encourage and coordinate Italian participation in the bidding process for SKA construction and operations. The SKA South Africa project (www.ska.ac.za) has been investing heavily in human capacity development, providing a funding pipeline for, among other uses, training

Ariston Thermo Group has landed to South Africa. A worldwide leading company in heating and water heating with a total turnover in 2013 of € 1.33 billion, 7.2 million products sold in more than 150 countries; it has 6,600 employees, 45 companies and 7 representative offices in 31 countries. Since March 2014, Heat Tech Geysers, a South African manufacturer of water heating solutions, has become part of the Italian multinational that now entirely controls the operations. South African market is of strategic importance for the international growth of the group, and consistent industrial and communication investments are going to be deployed to reinforce the current organization and to create the base for a further development. Heat Tech is today one of South African fastest growing, high performance, premium quality water heating solutions manufacturer. It is fast becoming the country’s new benchmark in not only conventional but also in solar water heating technology. Therefore, Heat Tech has been identified as the ideal partner for Ariston Thermo to enter the market and to invest to bring it up to the highest standards that are typical of any of the group plants. Heat Tech brand is already well known among customers and business operators thanks to its premium quality and wide national distribution. The local know-how and the market understanding of the South African organization are the perfect match for the Ariston Thermo long international experience that will be brought to the country by people, equipment, procedures and capabilities.

SKA South Africa scientists in Giardini Naxos, Italy, for the June 2014 SKA Science conference

Ariston Thermo’s commitment to energy efficiency is expressed through its constant stream of new solutions based on renewable energy sources such as solar thermal systems and heat pumps as well as improvement of the efficiency of traditional products (such as boilers and water heaters) and investment in new projects for the future. The underlying objective is to offer an optimal combination of comfort, energy savings and care for the environment. South Africa is careful about its energy strategies and Ariston Thermo Group can offer the ideal solutions for efficiency.

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The KAT7 prototype at the SKA South African core site in the Karoo

apprentices, technicians such as Michael Lesetja, science and engineering MSc and PhD students, post-doctoral research fellows, university lecturers and research chairs. Several Italian scientists have accepted the challenge of developing astronomical research in South Africa and have taken up research or teaching positions at the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s universities. Last but not the least, in August 2014 the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation approved a number of collaborative research proposals, including two

projects aimed at bringing closer South African and Italian scientists working in radio astronomy through student cosupervision, research visits and workshops. Scientists from the two countries will thus have a chance to work jointly on training the next generation of radio astronomers as well as shaping the future of radio astronomy. While it is still early days in a long-term project, the SKA promises to provide an important avenue to boost collaboration in research and development between South Africa and Italy â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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Reggio Emilia and South Africa: a long story of friendship by Alessandro Costa - ph Tavolo Reggio Africa

Poster of the Ship of Solidarity

Oliver Tambo with Giuseppe Soncini and Luis Cabaco, 1977

who were fighting for the freedom of Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. The voyage and cargo were the result of months of active campaigning, which involved the Italian Government, Regions, Provinces, Municipalities, Trade Unions, as well as political parties and civil society organisations. After fifteen days the Amanda arrived in the harbour at Luanda, Angola, and on the 23 June, it reached its final destination in Mozambique. The ship,

n a cold and rainy day in May 1980, the ship Amanda left the harbour of Genoa. It was full of expectations and hopes of the women and men on board, who faced with anticipation the extraordinary adventure that was just beginning. Its hold contained 2 800 tons of agricultural equipment, prebuilt structures (among which were three schools), ambulances, and clothes and food. All of this was to be given to those

Solidarity pact, 1977

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Oliver Tambo at the “National Conference of solidarity for the independence and sovereignty of the peoples of Southern Africa against colonialism, racism and the apartheid”, 1978

became the first city in the world to side officially with the crew and passengers were welcomed to Maputo by Italian anti-apartheid movement, and to identify itself expressly with parliamentarians, politicians, trade unionists and activists. the imperative to found a democratic South Africa. The successful mission of the first Italian ‘Ship of Solidarity’ The role of Reggio Emilia in the struggle against apartheid - which was followed by Rea Silva in 1984 - is the story of was internationally acknowledged in 1978 when the city was a city, Reggio Emilia, and its efforts to support the African chosen to host the first ‘National Conference of Solidarity for people’s struggle against colonialism and apartheid. the Independence and Sovereignty of the Peoples of Southern The relations between Reggio and the African continent date Africa against colonialism, back to 1963 in Warsaw when, racism and the apartheid‘, which at a conference of the ‘Partisans assembled many leaders of the for Peace,’ Mayor Renzo Bonazzi liberation movements, among met the Guinea-Bissauan leader them Oliver Tambo, Sam Nujoma Amilcar Cabral and Marcelino from Namibia, Marcelino Dos Dos Santos, founder of the Santos from Mozambique and Mozambique Liberation Front Robert Mugabe from what was (Frelimo). This meeting initiated then North Rhodesia. a strong and lasting friendship The Conference gave new impetus between the Italian and African to the initiatives organized by people. the citizens of Reggio Emilia. In In the years that followed, relations 1978, the first Italian edition of grew stronger and deeper, in Sechaba, the official magazine particular through the work and of the ANC, was published. In the personal commitment of 1982 the municipal publishers Councillor Giuseppe Soncini, who printed the first autobiography of promoted and chaired a national Nelson Mandela to be translated committee of solidarity with in Italian, The Struggle is My the peoples of South Africa (but The first Isitwalandwe medal, cast by the Italian sculptor Armando Giuffrida Life. The following year, the first which also reinforced relations ‘Isitwalandwe’ medals - the decoration with which the ANC with Mozambique and Angola). Thanks to his efforts, and honours its most important leaders - were cast in Italy, from the support of many associations and volunteers, on 26 June a design by the sculptor Armando Giuffredi. 1977, the Mayor Ugo Benassi signed a ‘solidarity pact’ with These were deep bonds indeed, but would not remain limited the ANC and its then president, Oliver Tambo. Reggio Emilia

Sechaba, 1978

to the past. The Municipality and the people of Reggio Emilia continue to this day to accompany South Africa along its democratic path. In 2012, the then-Vice President Kgalema Motlanthe visited Reggio, while in the same year the Mayor Graziano Delrio was welcomed in Johannesburg by Jacob Zuma and leaders of the ANC. The Italian Embassy in Pretoria, in collaboration with the HIP/ Hellenic, Italian and Portuguese Alliance, has organized an exhibition concerning this rich story of engagement. It was

opened in Johannesburg in October. Its aim is not only to display a history which united the peoples of Italy and South Africa, but also to represent the spirit of the times and to convey the strong emotions shared by a generation of Italians and South Africans. The case of the relations between Reggio Emilia and South Africa become thus an opportunity to think of what we both were, of what remains of those exceptional times, but also of what we can become, together. It is a story that should inspire future generations ◆

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AGEROLA’S PATHWAYS OF THE GODS by Municipality of Agerola

gerola, ‘Land of the Gods,’ is 600m above sea-level. You overlook the famous Amalfi Coast as if from a balcony. It is easy to get lost in the harmonious conjunction of the deep blue of the sea and the azure tones of the sky. Time slows down and the natural beauty of the environs seeps into your soul.

Agerola is criss-crossed by 60km of trails and pathways, the most famous being the ‘Path of the Gods.’ Lush surroundings give way to breath-taking views, ranging from deep gullies carved out by thousand-year-old mountain torrents to rocky cliffs at an altitude of 1,400m above sea-level. Seemingly endless oak forests are punctuated by remote medieval hermitages, and finally

Italy the vista opens onto the distant islands of Capri and Ischia. The region is also rich in gastronomic tradition. It is a cornucopia of local produce: fior-di-latte and buffalo mozzarellas; smoked provola cheeses; ‘provolone del monaco dop’ - a certified original cheese; salami and bacon; rusks and tarallo biscuits: chestnuts and walnuts; and terroir fruits such as limoncella apples and pennata pears.

Agerola is a natural and cultural jewel. It is intoxicating in every way; it transports those who visit it into realms of the imagination. It is also an open and welcoming town. No one remains a stranger for long; everyone receives old-world hospitality and soon you will feel completely at home.

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HIKING

Agerola is a paradise for hikers, and not only because of its extensive network of centuries-old footpaths, mule transport trails and tiered hillside terraces. The Amalfi Coast also presents a unique confluence of history, tradition and the natural world far from the noise and chaos of modern cities. The pathways, sculpted into this enchanted landscape, wind through various tones and hues of blues and greens, through natural gorges, gullies and forests, across streams and waterfalls, and through meadows in bloom. Some trails retrace the footpaths carved out, since ancient times, by the steps of shepherds and country folk. Several lead to small villages, religious retreats and beaches that have remained unspoiled for centuries and are now justifiably renowned all over the world.

THE PATH OF THE GODS

Starting from the main square in Bomerano, you can follow this 9km picturesque nature trail all the way to Positano. Known as the ‘Path of the Gods,’ this trail is rated as among the ten most beautiful pathways in the world. The walk in its entirety takes about 3 hours. It runs along spectacular cliffs, through gorges, affording unparalleled views at every turn from Positano to Punta Campanella and right up to the island of Capri. Along the way, walkers can see hillside terraces and ancient rural constructions, and have a bird’s-eye view of the towns, bays and capes of the spectacular coast. For those who are more adventurous, the ‘Path of the Gods’ continues to Punta Campanella, the eastern part of the Peninsula Sorrentina. This is a region steeped in history and

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legend: in Homer’s Odyssey, this is the place where Ulysses encountered the Sirens and where the ancient Greeks erected a temple to honour the Goddess Athena. After a day of hiking from Bomerano, the alluring island of Capri comes into view, presenting one of the most beautiful landscapes in Italy, if not the world.

URBAN TREKKING The urban routes offer the opportunity to discover the lesser known parts of Agerola. Here the culture of the region, including its thriving art tradition, is fused with the glories of

nature. There are also opportunities to participate in a range of outdoor sporting activities.

BORGO DEGLI DEI This trail is 2.5km in length and is a pleasant and undemanding walk. It begins at the piazza Paolo Capasso. Only 200m into the walk, you come upon the Acampora Palace, the residence of the Acampora family for over two hundred years. It is a rare example of early-eighteenth century aristocratic architecture. Inside, a characteristic courtyard opens onto a web of narrow streets. Ancient dry-stone walls and other

elements of architectural interest preserve the features of the ancient village of Bomerano. During the summer months this location hosts a gastronomic and cultural country fair, Borgo del Pane, which is part of the Agerola World Music Festival. This event transports the visitor back in time, bringing her into the presence of traditional craftsmen and inviting her to partake of the distinctive local produce. If you take the via Pennino toward the piazza, you find yourself on the ‘Path of the Gods’. For this walk you require robust trekking shoes and preferably hiking poles. If you

venture along this route - this pathway in the heavens that leads you through to Positano - you can admire the rocky cliffs of the cave Grotta del Biscotto and the ancient little houses built into the rock-face, which may well have been places of retreat for the hermits who, in the high-Middle Ages, used to live around the Church of Santa Barbara. The circular trail takes you back to the piazza Paolo Capasso, where you can admire the St Matthew the Apostle Church, built in the sixteenth century, which is rich in works of art and is renowned for the fifteenth-century wooden cross taken from what was once the Monastery of Santa Teresa in Campora ◆

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Di Meo, The Art of Wine

he wonderful hills of Salza Irpina, in the province of Avellino, are graced with the presence of the ‘Di Meo’ estate, which specializes in the production of wines (white, red, rosé and sparkling) and of grappa, brandy and ratafià. The estate devotes meticulous attention to every phase of production, from caring for the vineyards to harvesting the grapes, which still takes place exclusively by hand, while the most advanced technologies are used in the vinification processes. At the helm of this successful estate are the Di Meo brothers, Generoso, who sees to its promotion in Italy and abroad,

Vineyards

and oenologist Roberto, who is responsible for management. Besides the high quality of production, one of the aspects that distinguishes ‘Di Meo is the particular attention devoted to the territory, focusing on the defence of the old autochthonous grape varieties and, at the same time, the valorisation of wines which symbolise the oenological history of Irpinia, from Fiano di Avellino to Greco di Tufo and the red wine Taurasi. The defence and promotion of these specialities are pursued tenaciously by the Di Meo brothers, particularly Generoso, who, with his innate creativity and refinement, has not only implemented the company mission over the years, but has

Di Meo bottles

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by Anna Barbato

Generoso and Roberto Di Meo

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The Estate

The cellar

also succeeded in advancing a series of unique enterprises, creating a solid and happy combination between winemaking and the world of art and culture. In particular, through founding the ‘Di Meo: vino Ad Arte’ cultural association, the beautiful eighteenth-century farmhouse owned by the Di Meo family, around which hectares of land and vineyards revolve, has been transformed into a busy cultural centre; a wonderful setting into which

Interior of the Estate

Dining room

intellectuals, artists and writers are welcomed. Furthermore, an annual appointment for the past thirteen years has been the ‘Di Meo Calendar,’ which has now become a status-symbol, created by internationally acclaimed artists and characterised by the fact that it is based on a different theme every year, always with an attentive and sensitive eye on the world around us. The 2013 calendar, for example, by photographer Massimo

Listri, was dedicated to the immense artistic heritage of the city of Naples, with twelve shots depicting some of its most beautiful churches, with the aim of launching a strong message in defence of great artistic masterpieces. The 2012 edition, dedicated to Germany in the 1920s and 1930s, consisted of twelve beautiful photos of iconic men and women of the time, among them Marlene Dietrich, Bertolt Brecht and Albert Einstein.

Atrium of the Estate

These calendars are increasingly sought-after. The launches entail exclusive and original parties, held in a different city every year, in dreamlike locations (from the Capodimonte Museum in Naples, via Berlin’s Tempelhof airport, to the luxurious Kadiri Palace in Marrakech and the National Museum in Warsaw) and attended by VIPs from the artistic, cultural, political and diplomatic worlds all over the globe. Generoso Di Meo is a constantly active ‘volcano’ who,

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Calendar 2015 - March

Calendar 2015 - August

thanks to a marked sensitivity towards every form of art and culture, together with an innate ability to relate to people, has succeeded in just a few years in creating a close network of relationships in Italy and abroad. This has made the family business not only a perfect example of Italian and international entrepreneurial excellence, but also a point of reference within the broader artistic-social-cultural panorama. A modern-day patron of the arts, Generoso Di Meo is

Calendar 2015 - September

distinguished by a natural munificence and nobility, so much so that we would have to believe that he could not possibly have been given a more appropriate name. For Generoso and his remarkable family, art, in all its forms, takes on an essential role in the existence of each and every one of us. And in this case, the words of the great playwright, Bertolt Brecht, are particularly true: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;All artforms are in the service of the greatest of all arts: the art of livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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South African Cellists in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana by Berthine van Schoor - ph Dr Markus Krumme, 2014

Yeram Im in Trio

Berthine van Schoor

Matthys Pretorius

Ingo Meyer

astelnuovo di Garfagnana, a small medieval town in the northern part of Tuscany, comes alive with music annually at the end of June. It is host to the International Academy of Music, which takes place from 27 June to 8 July. The festival attracts teachers and students from all over the world and has already celebrated its tenth anniversary. It gives young musicians the opportunity to have lessons with world class teachers, to work together with young musicians from different countries, as well as to perform in solo and chamber music concerts. South African cellist Berthine van Schoor was invited to be part of the faculty of the academy for the third time this year, and she took along three young South African cellists. For them it was the first time to visit Italy and to take part in an international music festival. Together with their teacher, they visited Florence, Lucca and Pisa. During the festival, they performed in many concerts and also attended lessons with teachers from Italy, the USA and Russia. We asked each of them about their impressions.

Yeram Im (17), Pretoria My Italian experience was amazing. It allowed me not only to grow as a person, but also as a musician. It opened my awareness to a much larger musical world and inspired me to be even more dedicated in my pursuit in becoming a professional musician. It was wonderful to experience the culture and lifestyle of the Italians and the ice cream was delicious!

Matthys Pretorius (17), Pretoria

Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, la Rocca

I enjoyed visiting Italy and studying at the International academy of music. I learned a lot during the festival, attending different teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concerts and classes, as well as performing in the solo and chamber music concerts. During my visit I was amazed by the old buildings and bridges. I enjoyed the art work, the stained glass windows in particular. I will never forget the food, especially the pizza! I would love to return to Italy!

Ingo Meyer (17), Rustenburg

Berthine van Schoor

To me it was truly an experience that was worth a lifetime of waiting: a country infused with the perfect combination of art, architecture and food! An unforgettable culinary and art-filled two weeks and a festival that paved the road to my musical future with gold. I could not have learned more about the finer aspects of creating music anywhere else in the world.

Once again, visiting Italy was a heart-warming, inspiring experience. It is a privilege to be on the faculty of the International academy of music, teaching there and performing with world-class musicians. Taking my students to Italy is a real highlight: walking through Florence, watching the sunset over the magnificent city from Piazzale Michelangelo, visiting Museo San Marco to see the beautiful frescoes of Fra Angelico. For each of us it was an incredible, unforgettable and life-enhancing experience. We wish to thank the Italian Embassy in Pretoria for their support in making this possible. We would certainly love to visit your country again! â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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Portorotondo, a visionary reality by Luigi DonĂ dalle Rose

he call from the old Count Vittorio Cini, a wealthy, enlightened Venetian aristocrat, came in 1964: he wanted my brother, Nicholas, and myself to take care of tourism development for a vast tract of land he owned on the northeast coast of Sardinia. We were greatly surprised - why us? Because we were Venetians ourselves: young, full of enthusiasm, and capable of completing a project. Why there, where there was nothing except wild boar, wild birds, and a few ruined sheep-pens? Because it turned out that, just a few kilometres away, Prince

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Interior of the Church of San Lorenzo

Classic Sailing Regatta 2013

Karim Aga Khan had recently begun development of the ‘Costa Smeralda’ area, which is now considered one of the most beautiful and exclusive in the world of tourism. Portorotondo began like this, as did my career as an entrepreneur and developer. While proceeding with the urban development and designing the port, the village, and private villas, I hired young artists to beautify the community areas: the church and its bell tower, the “piazza”, the theatre, the main road out to the port itself - everything was constructed with a uniting philosophy of harmony and art. Today, Portorotondo is a global location: a small architectural gem set in breath-taking nature. Here we have seen royalty,

Classic Sailing Regatta 2011

heads of state, and every kind of artist, either visiting frequently, or coming to stay. In summer, the port plays host to the most spectacular yachts in the world, typically with a minimum length of 250 feet. That’s why, when I arrived twenty years ago in Cape Town to be with my wife, my heart leaped: I saw the same rocks smoothed by the often relentless wind, the same crystal light, the long, pristine, dazzlingly white beaches, surrounded by the same flora. Everything made me think of Sardinia. It was as if an artist had designed the area specifically to stop me feeling so far from my homeland. I have felt happily at home, both here and there, ever since I arrived ◆

Luigi Donà dalle Rose

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A New Map of Italian Design

Francesca Lanzavecchia, Our Chair, 2009, autoproduzione, con Hunn Wai

orming part of the Cape Town Design Capital 2014 expo, ‘The New Italian Design’ - presented by Triennale Design Musem in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency and the Italian Consulate - was exhibited at the Waterfront Lockout in Cape Town. From the 5-25 of October, the South African public had the opportunity to admire an overview on more than 130 contemporary Italian designers. This exhibition described and explained changes in design, linking them to economic, political, and technological changes over the past century. Presented for the first time in 2007 at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, ‘The New Italian Design’ is the result of a national survey on the passage from the twentieth to the twenty-first century and on the changing role of designers. The exhibited works range from self-produced prototypes to mass produced objects; from works of art to purely industrial

Brian Sironi, Elica, 2009, Martinelli Luce

artefacts. Many of the designers involved are already well established at international level and are employed by important companies in a number of industries. Others are involved in the art world and small-scale production, some of whom control the entire process of a product, from conceptualization to completion. The Triennale Design Museum is directed by Silvana Annicchiarico, who organized the exhibition with the intention to analyze and to give voice, space and visibility to new Italian creativity. She states: “Italian contemporary design is to be found in an absolutely different model from the one that dominated in the age of the “Masters”. In those days, design culture aimed to create finished, functional products, whereas today - in what has in a certain sense become a “mass profession” - design generates processes more than products, and is primarily a form of self-

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View from The New Italian Design exhibition at Centro Cultural La Moneda, Santiago Chile, 6 December 2013 - 30 March 2014. Courtesy Triennale Design Museum

representation of the designer’s ability to imagine, create and innovate. Today’s new designers are neither the heirs nor the pupils of the well-known artists of the past, such as Munari, Magistretti and Castiglioni. They are something else. Labelling them as “little masters” means forcing them into twentieth-century paradigms that no longer hold true. It means doing an injustice to them and to their diversity

Emanuele Magini, Lazy Football, 2010, Garagedesign

and originality, as well as to the design system as a whole. Finding one’s way around the new, everchanging world of Italian design, which is made of team effort more than individual action, requires no nostalgia for a golden age that doesn’t exist any more. What is needed is an ability to explore and experiment new forms of design, and possibly even lose one’s way, only to find it again.

Gumdesign, L’astemio, l’equilibrato, lo smodato, 2009, Gianni Seguso

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Formafantasma, Moulding tradition, 2010, Self-production

Antonio Cos, Barchetta, 2002, Collection

Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba, Piantama, 2010, Self-production

Dotdotdot, Cultura Eleva, 2008, Plusdesign Gallery

“The New Italian Design” exhibition is an attempt to move in this direction. For this reason, the map did not just concern furniture design but examined a far more ample area, in order to pinpoint all the new forms - from food to communication - that design had been entering into in recent years. There were not just traditional product designers but also those who worked on the web, graphics, fashion and textiles, as well as copywriters, jewellery designers, multimedia designers and those who create play environments and who work with digital images, through to those who work with style and narrative. ‘In other words, all-round designers: not just architect designers but also art directors, consultants, and service and communication organisers, through to those who carry out research and experiments” ◆

Sout h Africa

Year 2 •

Number 1 •

Free copy

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November 2014