APCOM

There are people who are not visible, people whose lives are a mystery to most of the hasty passers-by of the metropolis. They are the so called 'homeless' and their stories are hardly ever told. Victor Terminé, Ina Velleca and Antonello Monni know what it means, as they have experienced this condition for many years. They share both the same dream, the foundation of a family house for homeless, and the same passion, art.

On Wednesday, they inaugurated their first exhibition at the Baggio library, in Pistoia street. The title is emblematic: 'I colori degli invisibili - The invisible people's colours': dozens of drawings and paintings (on display until May 8th) describe their vision of the world. "One day I was given a paintbrush and I started drawing. Since then, I've never stopped" tells Ina "I portray a bit of everything by taking my cue from people, animals, nature".

Victor's artistic past is even 'academic': "When I was young I enrolled in the Brera Academy, but I stupidly began to use drugs and I dropped out of school. In spite of this, I've always loved painting and I kept doing it". Victor uses what citizens usually trash and realizes his works on woods, pieces of furniture and polystyrene panels, which slowly turn into art. "I get the inspiration from the faces I meet. I don't have a study, so I paint everywhere, sometimes on the cellar's tables".

In 2007 Ina, Antonello e Victor created 'Linea Gialla', a Ngo organization whose aim is to help homeless people who, according to a census carried out three months ago by Bocconi University and the Red Cross, in Milano are 1,600. Now the three friends will continue to focus on their next objective, the construction of a family house where, apart from finding a bed and a hot meal, the homeless can start their social reintegration.