When I first arrived at the Zara market I was amazed to see the women who I thought I had "invented" squatting on the beach, waiting, and instead there they were, alive and talking. In their humble outfits, at the threadbare market: all they sold was a little fruit, some country herbs and a few bottles of home made grappa. And so I started, right there, to do some watercolours of the market, which I later translated into paintings. And then, in Foggia, I found a connection between the market in Zara and the one in Foggia, an environmental connection. Maybe because all markets look somewhat alike. The one in Foggia did catch my eye. I did however notice a great difference in the market's actual content, because in Zara the women were selling small, rather humble stuff, from the land, while in Foggia the market was full of stuff, .... And so I felt the need to make a huge painting inspired by the Foggia market: a painting I've kept for many years in my studio. In actual fact it is a huge still life. But the chorus of women is there in the background.
(Mario Lupo - "Story of life, story of painting”)