Story#10 - PAFF
PAFF, the palace of comic arts, Pordenone (Italy)
Pordenone is my hometown. Located in North-East of Italy, it is a small province of about 50.000 inhabitants, just a fraction of any metropolitan area.
I was curious to learn how a small group of talented artists decided to create a cultural space dedicated to comics in such a small town. They haven't called it 'museum of comics', but 'palace of comic arts': this is PAFF.
I wanted to meet one of the founders of this unique initiative.
When I was directed to Emanuele Barison, all was clear. Pordenone has a long tradition of cartoonists: already at the beginning of 1960, Giorgio Bordini worked for "Topolino" and was well known throughout Italy; later, Emanuele Barison continued his legacy at Disney, before working at Diabolik; then a new wave of younger cartoonists like Giancarlo Tenenti, Ugo Furlan, Davide Toffolo, Romeo Toffanetti, Giulio De Vita.
Emanuele Barison, co-founder of PAFF
Altogether, these artists contribute to the quality of cartoon production in Italy (but also France and Europe). So, after all, it was not so strange if PAFF was created just there.
Emanuele is one of the leaders of this fascinating experience, and I am grateful he found time to discuss it with me. His talent, position in the Italian cartoon space, and personal story are well documented: this short story is not on that, which is known, but on his vision to take the comic arts to a new level.
Sometimes in Italy, comics are considered a minor form of art, mainly for children. Or for the newspapers, part of the political satyr.
Comics are art.
"In France, comics are a form of literature. Visual art for all: storytelling, images, colours".
"In France, comics are a form of literature. It is an art, in all respect: a narration through imagines. Visual art for all: storytelling, images, colours".
PAFF is a magical place for comics, immerse in an urban park, 5 minutes walking distance from the main square. Accessible to all.
There is a direction that PAFF took, which is unique: PAFF is not the 'classic' museum, which hosts exhibitions on -in this case- comics. Emanuele and the group of founders understood that the boundaries had to be set way beyond this.
Comics and cartoons need to enter into a dialogue with other forms of communication and arts.
"It is not a museum. It is a hub for creative minds, which builds on comics. It is about design, graphics, painting, scenography, modern art, radio".
Pordenone has a long tradition of cartoonists, and it was natural to give a similar group the facility to build an exciting project.
PAFF is European excellence. The idea started 12 years ago with Giulio De Vita. Under the guidance, the experience and the network of Emanuele, the project evolved and opened to the public two years ago. Moreover, PAFF became an association. One of the first comic associations in the EU to manage a modern art gallery.
Giuseppe, at PAFF
Three exhibitions have been organised so far: Gradimir Smudja, Giorgio Cavezzano and Milo Manara, which ran during my chat with Emanuele.
"Milo Manara is the most famous Italian cartoonist, and we are so happy we can propose his work".
But PAFF is also a place for events, training, concerts, team building. It constantly builds bridges with literature and national events, offering opportunities to new artists to present their work.
There is always a new idea on the horizon, a new way to disseminate the richness of comics.
"We will develop the relationship between sound and comics, promoting concerts at the gallery. And, why not a new PAFF TV channel? We want to raise awareness on the art present in this place, to attract people here, but also to give visibility to new artists".
Like what the Director of the Musee Matisse in Nice told me, the art is not for online fruition. Art cannot be virtual: it is another thing.
"The value is the paper user, the colour selected, the brush, the detail."
PAFF is reachable in 1h15min train (+10 min walk) from Venice, a classical touristic destination of the region, expanding the attractivity of an area with a unique cultural offering.
I believe you need strong motivation and talent to imagine a place like the PAFF in a small size province of Italy. Emanuele showed me how to build a cultural centre of excellence without moving to big cities or abroad.
He was a volcano of new ideas and initiatives, shared with a small, highly motivated team. These experiences create hope, generate enthusiasm, transit energy and stimulate cultural exchanges with other disciplines.
PAFF has lost more than one year because of covid. But this time was used to prepare new surprises.
Looking forward to that. A place which, for sure, I will visit very often every time I pass by home.
Grazie mille, Emanuele
STORIES of HOPE. Simple stories of ordinary people that carry a message of hope, a fragment of future. I have been meeting incredible people, that transmit energy, passion, engagement. I talk to them and try to find their message of hope.
