ONLY IN PARIS

Diego Voci; Sacre Coeur oil on canvas 17″ x 13″

Chapter Two: Helga meets DIEGO in Paris. In Helga’s words:

“My girlfriend and I decided to go back to Paris in January 1960 to study for another period. Shortly after that I met DIEGO one Sunday afternoon my girlfriend Eve and I were sitting in a very famous coffeehouse which was frequented by many artists: Les Deux Magots.“

“Suddenly the famous Italian sculptor, Gigi Guadagnucci (whom we had already known from before) entered together with Diego (had never seen before) and they came to sit at our table. We had a nice chat and some time later they left.“

“I didn`t see DIEGO for several weeks and then one day I was in a Bank to change some money when I heard a voice behind me….”Mademoiselle Helga…”, I turned and saw DIEGO behind me and he said: “Can I give you a lift with my car?” I must say at that time I had met many artists who were quite poor, they were all seriously working, they mostly had small ateliers, no comfort, happy when they sold a painting, and then invited the others. And when they didn`t sell – just eating bread and black coffee. Nobody had a car, in fact DIEGO was called: “el pintor con coche” (which means- the painter with a car) . So, when I heard DIEGO inviting me in his car I thought: this man is showing off, besides the car he was very well dressed, like a businessman. So I said: “I have to go to school and it`s very close, I can walk there, I don`t need a car.” Finally he convinced me to sit in his car and he explained to me that he had seen me, left the car outside the Bank at a corner (double-parked) in order to follow me and that he had to move the car.“

https://www.blurb.com/b/10242206-diego

#PARIS BEGINS 25 YEAR #LOVE AFFAIR

Chapter Two:  Helga meets #DIEGO in #Paris

“My girlfriend and I decided to go back to #Paris in January 1960 to study for another period. Shortly after that I met DIEGO one Sunday afternoon my girlfriend Eve and I were sitting in a very famous coffeehouse which was frequented by many artists:  Les Deux Magots http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/ambiances.php#/ambiances.php

Suddenly an Italian sculptor, #Gigi Guadagnucci http://www.gigiguadagnucci.com/ (whom we had already known from before) entered together with Diego (had never seen before) and they came to sit at our table. We had a nice chat and some time later they left.  See Gigi Guadagnucci below.

I didn`t see #DIEGO for several weeks and then one day I was in a Bank to change some money when I heard a voice behind me….”Mademoiselle Helga…”, I turned and saw #DIEGO behind me and he said: “Can I give you a lift with my car?”   I must say at that time I had met many artists who were quite poor, they were all seriously working, they mostly had small ateliers, no comfort, happy when they sold a painting, and then invited the others. And when they didn`t sell – just eating bread and black coffee. Nobody had a car, in fact #DIEGO was called: “el pintor con coche” (which means- the painter with a car). So, when I heard #DIEGO inviting me in his car I thought: this man is showing off, besides the car he was very well dressed, like a businessman. So I said: “I have to go to school and it`s very close, I can walk there, I don`t need a car.” Finally he convinced me to sit in his car and he explained to me that he had seen me, left the car outside the Bank at a corner (double-parked) in order to follow me and that he had to move the car.  See Diego’s in 1954 and an example of Opel Kapitan car below.

Okay, this was the beginning of a 25 years lasting love, we stayed together until December 1985 when #DIEGO died of lung cancer. In #Paris we stayed until October 1960. We had a wonderful time, I became acquainted with another part of Paris, we went to fantastic Restaurants, we met very interesting people, many artists, long discussions in  – La Coupole– http://www.lacoupole-paris.com/en/, a famous place, that has been frequented by such artists as such as Yves Klein (painter), Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir (both writers) and many others.

#DIEGO was living in a small Hotel near the Seine, he did not really work, just a few sketches from time to time and I was wondering how he was financing his living. He made a big secret about his finances. He spent quite a lot of money, he had a big car and he hardly worked. From time to time he went off from #Paris for a few days or a week and then everything went on again. He told me that he was separated from his wife Josiane, maiden name Schäfer, she was from #Geneva, #Switzerland. I know that he had been living with her for some time in #Geneva and also in Wiesbaden but how he made his living at that time I don`t know. Whether he was painting or not, he never talked about it.

Some time later I found out that #DIEGO was doing caricatures in American Officers Clubs in #France, #Germany and later on also in #London and #Spain. He did wonderful caricatures, it took him about 10 minutes to do each one and people were crazy about them, they stood in line waiting for their turn. He made a lot of money with this, I`m sure there are still many Officers who remember him. When I said to him why was he not painting or only a little he said that he was studying people and he would start later on.” – written by Helga Voci

To read Chapter One: https://diegovociproject.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/helga-and-diego-voci-by-helga-voci/

Courtesy of www.diegovociproject.com 

Diego Voci on YouTube and Google.

This site is authorized by Helga Voci, sole owner of the Diego Voci Estate.

6/11/2010 AC DV History #33

THE #DIEGO NAME #MYSTERY

How and when did Antonio Innocenzo Voci (No Diego), born August 10, 1920 in the small village of Gasperina, Italy become known as “Diego”?

Friends and family called him “TOTO” in his years of youth (No Diego).

Somewhere from “TOTO” there was a change to “Diego” even though he would not sign his art “Diego” until 1965.  Early works of art were signed some form of VOCI.  As late as 1965, his works were advertised by Schloßgalerie, #Zürich, as Antonio Voci (Not Diego).  He signed “A. Voci”.

Yet much earlier he was called “Diego.”  How & when is unknown.  Anthony “Tony” Voci in 1957 (son of Diego’s older brother Vincenzo) toured Europe with “Diego”.  Tony said in an interview;

“Every town we drove thru, Diego would say we need to stop for an espresso and cigarette”…. When Diego would walk into the restaurants, the owners would welcome him as “Diego”.”

Diego signed “D. Voci 1957” on the gifts he drew for Tony during the same travels.

In 1960 the famous sculptor Gigi #Guadagnucci used the name “Diego” to introduce him to Helga at the Les Deux Magots café in Paris.  Helga knew her husband-to-be as “Diego” for their 25 years together.

He first signed his work “Diego” in 1965 when Joy Gibson, the Canadian art dealer began representing his work.

In 1970, he signed a contract with Dr. Jawdat Naffouj, as “Antonio Diego.”

In 1974, he signed a contract with Cooprider signing “Diego Voci”.

1976 was the first time he offered his name as Antonio “Diego” Voci on an official government document.  It was with the town of Taunusstein for a residence permit required to buy the house / studio where Diego & Helga lived together until his death in 1985.  Helga maintains the same address.

So again, the big question is: how and when did “Toto” become “Diego”?  Can you help?

You can see a few signatures from his paintings on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/diegovoci/signatures/ and Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Diego_Voci#Gallery

AC DV History 12/21/15 #208