Famiglia Baglione: fevereiro 2010

14.2.10

Alice Galeffi Interview William Baglione

The art world goes way beyond artists; while those are too busy thinking outside the box, someone has got to make the contacts, organize exhibitions, and make sure the artist’s work is being used for the right purposes. The Brazil Issue interviewed William Baglione, a man of vision in the art world. Coming from Sao Paulo’s east side, where survival depended solely on the basics, he experienced art before knowing what it was, and now he represents five different artists: Herbet Baglione (his brother), Sesper, Tinho, Flip and Thais Beltrame. William and his crew call themselves the Baglione Famiglia (family). Trust and loyalty are the basis of their relationship, just like in the Italian mafia.

How did you begin to get involved with the art world?

I begun to get involved with art when I didn’t even know what art was. I believe those innocent moments were the happiest ones. Art was already in my life even though I did not know it; art was there when I wrote marginal poetry, when I watched my mom cook wonderful food, or when I watched my grandma take care or her plants. Art was even in the experience of growing on the east side of Sao Paulo, surviving only with the basics. From an early age, I could see art on the simplest human gestures. My brother, Herbert Baglione, has always been a gifted artist. It all begun in 1994, when I worked in a bank. I used to go to work carrying his portfolio to show to other people; I wanted to have an outside and more critical view on his paintings and drawings. I always admired him as an artist and as a man. Even with all the socio-economic difficulties that a lower class family has to face, we still had hope, and hope is enough for those who are predestinated to do what’s intangible. While Herbert drew, I sold the dreams.

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