Art and Creativity
to the memory of RYŪICHI SAKAMOTO - 2024
Musician and composer - Japan
For placing the fusion of Eastern ethnic music and Western electronic sounds at the center of his work. Japanese musician, composer and actor is considered among the pioneers.
His extensive solo discography (which includes over seventy different titles) spans numerous genres such as pop, electronic music, ambient, bossa nova, world music, and neoclassical music.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 07 june 2024
ORNELLA VANONI - 2018
Singer and Artist - ITALY
Ornella Vanoni is a great interpreter of the Italian song. His unique and distinctive style of interpretation characterizes his art, bringing to success songs of the most important Italian singer and songwriters.
His interpretations have involved various areas of society over the years: from the songs of mala to bossa nova and jazz. During his long career, he has participated in eight editions of the Sanremo Festival: in this last edition, Ornella Vanoni has been awarded the "Sergio Endrigo Award for best interpretation". In recognition of a long career and, in particular, the consistency with which he has traversed a long section of the history of Italian song, Ornella Vanoni is awarded the "Mediterranean Award for Art and Creativity" 2018.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 14 may 2018
PINO DANIELE - 2014
Singer and Artist - ITALY
The Mediterranean is not only a journey through geography, history, religions, traditions, wars, cultures, destiny…
It is above all art and music that characterize the cradle of our civilization. Pino Daniele represents the rare example of a person who, by matching cultural and musical contaminations, has been able to identify in the Mediterranean culture that mixture of sound and passion being the fundamental basis of his art.
Starting from Naples Pino Daniele has refashioned music and song through the emotions of conscience, by transferring to the peculiarity of his voice and his guitar those vibrations of soul that make him a unique protagonist of the “Song coming from the Sea”.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 29 october 2014
in memory of LUCIO DALLA - 2013
Singer songwriter - ITALY
His artistic temperament above all found its expression in the “Sea”, the Mediterranean, which he travelled upon so many times, and where he found inspiration for his most beautiful and universal compositions. The Mediterraneity of Lucio Dalla transpires and gathers force in a mix of sounds, cries, whispers, musical murmurs, verses, grimaces, warbling and emotions which are deeply touching, leaving a pallet of indelible colours that communicate in other languages whose origins are found in different cultures, traditions and faiths.
Awarding Ceremony
Bologna, 04 March 2013
ANTONIO BORRELLI - 2012
Sculptor - ITALY
Whether as a sculptor of impressive abstract forms or designer of small refined jewellery with movable interlocking mechanisms, Antonio Borrelli has built his creative genius around the mastery of his “know-how” to such an extent that his inspiration or sensitivity never exceed his technical ability.
He is able to pass from monumental megastructures to microstructure utilitarian objects or jewellery peculiar to art of the last century, the twentieth century. Despite his inherently transient character, as with all definitions, the term “micromega artist” may be used describe motivation and the contradictory path taken by Antonio Borelli, as his inquiry into formal completeness trascends the ways in which plastic art and ornamental objects are used.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 4 january 2012
GIUSEPPE ANTONELLO LEONE - 2012
ITALY
His artistic express evolved between the two opposite poles of figurative art, transfigured by his own brand of tragic surrealism and love for recuperated object, which he injects with powerful irony about postindustrial consumerism. In all his works, his skill in the transfiguration of forms pervades, which is expressed through his technical mastery.
His works are also an expression of Mediterranean Art. His major works include: the bronze panels of the Way of the Cross at the Church of Saint Peter in Camerellis di Salerno, the cycle of mosaics at the Seminary Church of Sessa Aurunca, the mosaic at the Church of Saint Anthony of Corleto Perticara, the fresco in the Church of Our Lady of Spinoso, the stained-glass window in the Cathedral of Benevento, three paintings in Church of Saint Anna in Potenza, the fresco in the Rocca dei Rettori in Benevento, the bronze panels for the cental door of the Cathedral of Messina.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 4 january 2012
Associazione Italiana "AMICI DEL PRESEPIO" - 2011
Association Artistic-Cultural / Naples-Section - ITALY
For promoting the crib art across the world and for valorising the incessant work of all the craftsmen who hand down the ancient know-how related to the crib, which reflects the characteristics of a community and of an epoch, representing the great mystery of Jesus’ birth.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 4 january 2011
ROBERTO DE SIMONE - 2010
Theatre director, Composer and Musicologist - ITALY
He has given an exemplary contribution to the history of lyric and the arts of show, especially as manager of the Teatro San Carlo of Naples. His primary objective has been that of restoring and valorizing the cultural, theatrical and musical heritage of the Campania region’s popular tradition, both written and oral. The popular repertoire is not proposed in an arbitrary way, but it is based on cultivated systems such as for instance writing and metric elaboration.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 26 march 2010
PINO CACOZZA - 2009
Actor, Musician - ITALY
Pino Cacozza has given expression to the collective consciousness of the Arbëreshe people. In his wide production of poems and songs he brings back to mind the latent memories of a community which is socially and politically melted into the Italian nation but is still preserving its historical and linguistic tradition. He prefers squares rather than theatres and in his performances he uses verses and music to exalt a whole people, renewing its roots, reinforcing its feeling of unity and swaying the audience in a choral brotherly dance at the end of the show.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 19 february 2009
RICHARD GALLIANO - 2008
Musician - FRANCE
For his great originality synthesising different musical experiences in a new interpretative key, made of improvisation and Mediterranean tradition, allowing the accordion to play as a protagonist in contemporary jazz.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 4 january 2008
YUSUF ISLAM - 2007
Singer - REGNO UNITO
He gives voice to the feelings of universal fraternity and interreligious dialogue through the languages of popular music: notes and words which transmit not only deep emotions, but also common values shared by men of good will, beyond all social, cultural or ideological barrier.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 4 january 2007
RINO VOLPE - 2006
Painter - ITALY
For Rino Volpe, artistic research means research of oneself. With his father Pietro and his wife Maria Sofia, he opened the Gallery “Il Diagramma 32” in Naples: the cultural point of reference in the city until the 90s. His interest is particularly focused on signs and writings which, in his work “Soprappensieri”, lead him to insert quotations drawn from philosophers and poets who celebrate, like “the numbers and the alphabet”, the “Mediterran mood” with their own substance of “being” but especially with that of “existing”. His work is a reference point of modern art and, in spite of the Babel of languages, he is never tired of inventing new ones everyday because, as Orsini states, “art always gives a further meaning to things, making them signs”.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 21 january 2006
CHEB KHALED - 2006
Singer - ALGERIA
For his contribution, through his art, in promoting the importance of dialogue among cultures demonstrating how music is a language able to bring people and countries together and to foster both synergies and trades, which constitute the basis for shared development and peace.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 4 january 2006
DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER - 2006
Singer - USA
For her ability in combining her vocal style with the African and Mediterranean rhythms. The awareness of the power of music to promote dialogue and inner feelings enabled her to help many people who, thanks to her songs filled with a remarkable Mediterranean feel, regained a new will to live.
Awarding CeremonyNaples, 4 january 2006
GIUSEPPE FERRIGNO - 2005
Craftsman - ITALY
This award underlines the importance of Ferrigno’s works in preserving and diffusing the traditional Neapolitan craft of hand-made nativity scenes.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 19 december 2005
TEATRO SAN CARLO - 2003/2004
Sovrintendente Gioacchino Lanza Tomasi - ITALY
For its exemplary contribution to the history of grand opera and to the art of entertainment since 1737, the year in which it was founded by Carlo di Borbone. The San Carlo Theatre has added a Mediterranean dimension to its prestigious history when its chorus performed the “Hymn of the Mediterranean”.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 14 september 2003
CARLA GUIDO - 2003
Actress - ITALY
She has been able, through her exceptional and cathartic interpretation, to make absolute the drama of the feminine universe, subordinate and victim of violence in a story written with blood.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 14 march 2003
MONI OVADIA - 2002
Singer, Actor - ISRAELE
The search for novelty in life, custom and thought, which has been the dynamic force of the West since its first establishment, has frantically accelerated towards “modernity”. With regard to the societies which have rigorously maintained their traditions as concepts and custom as well as social order and even the forms of art, literature and language, “modernity” has an impact giving rise to a turbulence which – unlike invasions and wars that are suddenly upsetting but rapidly subsiding – can hardly calm down since “modernity” is violently confronted to convictions and habits, so it upsets well‑established economies, imposes to break the fabric in which everyone is contained but sure, blocked but steady, it liberates the individual and pushes him towards perspectives launched over nothingness. A deep, unprepared and unexpected break, giving rise to hopes that are not realized, bearing an illegible message. In the entire non-Western World, particularly in the Islamic World which in this situation cannot even find the promises of Greek philosophy that had nourished the West and that Islam itself had in part given back to it by Its falsafa, the consequences of that impact are overwhelming, they provoke oppositions which rigidly cling to the past. Facing such a great preclusion and violence, it is very difficult to try to promote mutual understanding and start a dialogue. It is with this aim that Moni Ovadia has dedicated, with passion and endurance, his constant work of research and invention to the revival and re-interpretation of ancient Sephardic and Arabic songs from the XIII and XIV century, recalling the common roots of those cultures that are today taken as ground for confrontation by peoples who, instead, cannot attain their renaissance without new cooperation and harmony.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 4 january 2002
NOA and NABIL - 2001
Singers - ISRAELE / PALESTINA
In a delicate moment of the relations between Israeli and Palestinian peoples, Noa and Nabil, two of the most famous Middle-Eastern musicians – Noa Israeli and Nabil Palestinian – have chosen to perform together, testifying the need of dialogue to settle conflicts. Noa and Nabil are strongly related by a common action expressed by the musical projects of the two groups arising from the wish of encounter. Radiodervish music (from “dar” “wish”: visitors of power) comes from Nabil’s will to combine the sonority of melody with the roots of Arab tradition. The rhythm – universal language – is the focus of the music of Noa, daughter of Israel grown in the Bronx, while her jazz training is the background of her songs. Noa’s and Nabil’s commitment for peace is the primary aim of their art, constantly pursued by both of them and recognized by their respective peoples. Recent history has abruptly put Israel and Palestine at the centre of international attention. Both populations are paying a very high price in terms of human lives and the peace process appears, day after day, farther and farther. That’s why any action aiming at promoting dialogue and cooperation between the two peoples is now indispensable and in this process the joint action undertaken by Noa and Nabil assumes an important and significant value. For these reasons, Fondazione Mediterraneo and Accademia del Mediterraneo grant to Noa and Nabil the Mediterranean Art and Creativity Award 2001, in acknowledgment of their will and ability to use the universal language of music as a peace tool.
Awarding Ceremony
Naples, 4 january 2001