#ticinomoments 2024

30 #ticinomoments
Yuri is a fashion and design photographer. Since
2012 he has also been working as an artist, taking
part in international exhibitions and exhibiting
in famous museums around the world. In 2018,
after years of non-stop travel, he settled in Rovio,
in the Mara Valley, where he and his life partner
Silvia fell in love with the local area and decided
to make a dream come true: CasaGalleria.ART.
A house that is both their home and a modern
gallery at the same time. Yuri and Silvia welcome
visitors, pamper them and offer them an informal
artistic experience in an evocative natural
setting. It’s just like visiting friends in their home.
EVERYONE CAN ACCESS ART
The home is usually a person’s most important
and intimate place. The idea of arranging this
space in a new way and sharing it with others
wouldn’t suit everyone. For Yuri and Silvia it was
a natural development linked to their personal
conception of art. For them, the home, like art,
should be experienced in company, and above
all in a relaxed atmosphere. The CasaGalleria.
ART sets out to offer people a truly unique
experience. Indeed, in addition to visiting the
works on display, guests have the chance to get
to know the artist, to chat with him, to watch
him at work in his studio and to stay if they so
wish. The house overlooks a beautiful garden
lovingly tended by Silvia, who grows all kinds
of flowers. In addition to the vegetable garden,
there is a small table in the centre surrounded
by some seating and comfortable chairs that
invite us to take a break and contemplate Monte
Generoso. A little further down there is even
a tent. “Those who want to stay longer… can,”
explains Yuri with amusement.
FROM ART TO THE LOCAL AREA
CasaGalleria.ART is open to the public by appointment
7 days a week. Silvia explains that “In this
way we try to guarantee that the artist is always
here. It’s an aspect that our guests seek out and
appreciate. We also offer different packages that
include a visit to the gallery with the artist and
customised photo sessions, all combined with
the opportunity to enjoy an aperitif or a lunch.”
The photo sessions in Yuri’s studio, as well as
the visits, reveal great attention to detail and
guests have time to appreciate not only the
artistic experience, but also the local flavours.
Silvia picks seasonal, local produce that she
skilfully pairs with Merlot wines from the region.
“We therefore manage to convey the local area
through art and help to promote it,” adds Silvia.
FROM PHOTOGRAPHY TO STREET ART
Yuri and Silvia have slotted perfectly into Rovio’s
social fabric. Much of this is due to their friendliness
and their spontaneous way of relating to
other people. “We consider ourselves an extended
family. The idea of having people stopping over
at our home is always a reason for growth,” says
Yuri. “They enrich us with their emotions and
wonder during their visit.”
Yuri is an inquisitive and eclectic artist. Over the
years this has led him to experiment with new
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languages in addition to photography, such as
digital manipulation, painting and collage. A key
example was “I gatti di Rovio” exhibition. This
street art project, developed during the pandemic,
was produced using a technique called paste-up
that consists of gluing photographs (printed in
various formats) to walls. For a number of months,
the historic centre of Rovio was populated with
blow-ups of cats that Yuri had glued in place
thanks to the invaluable support of the locals.
“Doing art means conducting social experiments,”
explains Yuri. This is a concept that the artist
once again put into practice with “Black Flower
Secret Garden”, a collection of nocturnal shots of
the flowers grown in the garden by Silvia. After
talking about the project with some neighbours,
many of them decided to take their own shots
of nature in the dark. This was a great source
of satisfaction for Yuri.
For some time the garden has also been enhanced
by spectacular edelweiss that the artist can’t
wait to photograph in the moonlight.
In the Mara Valley, surrounded by lush nature,
the art of good living becomes something accessible
to everyone, which can be experienced in
person. To do so, simply cross the threshold of
CasaGalleria.ART.
01. Silvia and Yuri’s home is a real art gallery
where they welcome visitors enthusiastically.
02. Painting with the artist was a unique
experience for Giulia.
03. The artist offers creative and bespoke experiences
for visitors to his studio.
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