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Street Artist Fights Hate With Love and Food

Pier Paolo Spinazze aka Cibo

By Rick Henry Christopher Published 2 years ago 3 min read
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He is known as Cibo to those that have the honor of seeing his artwork. The catch is once you see it, it may be different the next time you see it.

In Italian the word Cibo means food.

Cibo is a street artist based in Verona, Italy who uses food art to spread tasty values. He uses food because food is very important to Italians. It brings people together.

Born in 1982 Cibo's real name is Pier Paolo Spinazze and he is rapidly becoming one of the best known street artists in the world. He primarily works in his neighborhood in Verona, Italy but has been commissioned to spread his tasty joy around the world to places such as France, Thailand, United States, and other parts of the world.

He's teamed up with LEGO and helped to create a few new blocks. He did not take pay. Instead he thanked them for creating the toys he enjoyed when he was a child.

Spinazze receives letters from property owners daily requesting his services to paint over hate words or symbols such as swastikas.

Food art is his passion, so he transforms hate remarks, symbols such as swastikas, and more into cupcakes, cheese wedges, salads, and cornucopias flowing with fruit and vegetables.

Spinazze uses mostly spray paint but will also use rollers to quickly cover large area and small paint brushes for finer details.

He celebrates days such as International Day of Tolerance and spreads messages of positivity and love on his facebook and instagram accounts. He does this with a smile on his face and laughter in his heart even though he (and his family) have received death threats from far-right groups. He does not let them intimidate him. He keeps going strong and is determined to continue creating his art.

Spinazze recently painted on the site of a 2009 automobile accident which involved the neighborhood, causing the death of 32 people. The site was a daily reminder of tragedy. Now the site is adorned with Spinazze's colorful art in hopes of bringing the neighborhood hope and joy.

Many of his murals have to be done several times over as offenders of facism and hate will repeatedly destroy his works. But Spinazze does not give up. He will not let the fascists win. He will keep painting and repainting over their swastikas and other symbols and words of hate until they stop. In one instance when he had to repaint four times he said, "Round four. I'm still hungry. Their cowardice always makes me more hungry."

Spinazze began his work about 15 years ago, not so much for the sake of art, but from a social

point of view against hatred, fascism, and weapons. He considers himself to be a volunteer committed to the betterment of his community.

Spinazze was inspired to begin his good work after one of his close friends was tragically killed by fascists while at university.

In an interview with Vice he told them that, Italy’s food culture is a source of pride for him, while its divisive, racist, and hateful tendencies are a source of shame.

Speaking on a program on Italy's public television channel, RAI 2, Spinazze commented, "Anti-fascism is a value that is both constitutional and non-partisan. Because of this, each citizen must be liable to defend freedom with his or her own skills and languages."

He uses his art to protest the rise of the extreme right in Italy (and other parts of Europe). His goal is to promote love not hate and acceptance of diversity. He wants to erase hate and fascism.

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About the Creator

Rick Henry Christopher

Writing is a distraction to fulfill my need for intellectual stimulus, emotional release, and soothing the bruises of the day.

The shattered pieces of life will not discourage me.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vocalplusassist

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Comments (3)

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  • Veronica Coldiron2 years ago

    What a sweet turn on such ugly things! I enjoyed reading this so much! Thank your for sharing this story! ❤

  • Heather Hubler2 years ago

    I love learning about other people and places, so it was an extra joy to learn about Spinazze and how one person can make so much of a difference for good. Thank you for sharing his wonderful story in such a well-written article. Great work!

  • Immensely enjoyed reading this!

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