A lot of color and creativity characterize Fernando García de Alba's works of art. He's a young Mexican-Italian artist who, at 30 years old, blends his Mexican roots and Roman blood into his works.
FERNANDO GARCÍA DE ALBA
Artist
Do you listen to music while you draw?
Yes.
What kind of music?
“Volare” and “Bella Ciao.”
He's a huge soccer and Juventus fan. His favorite color is green, he's fascinated by nature and the beauty of flowers and he loves imposing structures like the Eiffel Tower.
FERNANDO GARCÍA DE ALBA
Artist
For me it's the Eiffel Tower. You like the Eiffel Tower? Why? Because it's tall.
Fernando discovered his passion for art at an early age. During family reunions, he would draw portraits and then gift them to each of his assistants. A crucial influence of this love of art has been his family, especially his father, the Mexican Ambassador to Italy.
CARLOS GARCÍA DE ALBA
Mexican Ambassador to Italy
“I'm absolutely proud, even more so because he's an only child and special. To see that, despite his limitations—because Down Syndrome has its limitations—he has tastes, affinities, passions, hobbies that he manages to reflect, makes me very proud. All parents are proud of their kids, but when that kid is special, this passion and pride are elevated.”
That's why his family has encouraged him to take classes, to continue to improve his use of artistic tools and technique.
Recently, “La Cucaracha,” a Mexican restaurant in Rome, offered its walls for this young artist to display his works. In fact, as a sort of tribute to the restaurant, the main piece is a cockroach.
For Fernando's dreams, the sky is the limit—way beyond the height of the Eiffel Tower.
Daniel Díaz Vizzi
Translation: Claudia Torres