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Armando Dolcini was born in 1955 in Lumezzane, a small town in the province of Brescia, in the north of Italy. His parents, both practicing Catholics, were originally from the Sabbia Valley, a valley situated at the foot of the Alps, west of Lake Garda. At the age of just 13 Dolcini came to the decision that he no longer wanted to go to school as he disliked the teaching methods there. He subsequently dropped out of school and got a job a in a factory.

Working in a factory at such a tender age was a big culture shock for him and it had an enormous impact on his development. He was thrown into an adult world that was both harsh and intense, where he had to fight to discover his own identity, as he still wasn’t sure about it. He worked hard, not only in his new job, but also in his quest to realise his dreams and ambitions. He was striving to not become overwhelmed by what he perceived as a purely materialistic way of life. Then, after a period of about five years of feeling insecure, tormented, and completely unsatisfied with his life, in a moment of clarity, he discovered his true inner self.

In 1973, while reading a passage written by Mark the Evangelist, in a book from the East, Dolcini saw a sign. This sign, a sign of destiny, led him on an inspired journey of discovery. A new, existential approach to life which started out as a simple research into spirituality, by studying the history of religion and practicing yoga, and which eventually branched out to encompass the study of philosophy and in particular the metaphysical evolution of man.

Abandoning the old and now insignificant concept of monotheism, an ideological characteristic of Catholicism, he decided to adopt an idealistic concept which was in no way connected to religious sectarianism, something that he recognised in his vision and perception of God, in His innermost self both monistic and pantheistic.

This change in spirituality coincided with him discovering his natural artistic abilities and he began to produce works of art even though he was still working hard in the factory. Self-taught, he recognised that he was skilled in fine arts and in literature and thus dedicated himself to both with great passion. He subsequently perfectioned his technique and the introspective aspects of his work while continuing on his spiritual journey. It didn’t take long before his work was being recognised for its unique style which eventually became known as “Dolcinian”. In his paintings and sculptures he adopts two different methods of communication that he calls “Superficial” and “Profound”. He employs many different techniques and uses many different materials making reference, as required, to the most wide-ranging and suitable artistic trends, both modern and classical, or in some cases combining both, in this way making his works unique and very personal.

“…as I feel that the East is in my soul, this spirit allows me to carry on without being dragged down into the frenetic and materialistic life of the western world. In turn, the hustle and bustle of modern life allows me to be extremely active as a worker, without running the risk of getting bogged down in philosophical thoughts and concepts.”

“I am like a bridge that has its foundations in the East and in the West, and if anyone would like to get to know me better all they need to do is cross the bridge from one end to the other.”