|
ART
Laura Fantini started exhibiting her “photographs of the mind”
fusing warm medieval colors with the ones more brilliant of New
York
A little bit of
Bologna in New York
“My first exhibition dates back to 1992 at the Galleria Barozzi
in Modena, but my relationship with the USA started only in 2000
thanks to the publication of one of my colored pencil portraits
in an international newsletter. I started exhibiting in New York
in 2001 and collaborating with a not-for-profit organization and
a gallery in Brooklyn in 2004”.
Laura Fantini
is a young Bolognese artist who has been a regular presence in
New York over the last few years, thanks in part to the Object
Image Gallery (91 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn), who has decided to
represent her among its artists. Laura’s paintings look like
photographs, but –of course– being an artistic creation, have a
particular strength, an interior beauty so to speak and a
sensibility that make these works incredibly fascinating.
How did your New York adventure
start?
“It started a bit
accidentally, as a tourist, but I found numerous inspirational
points for my art right away, even in the images inspired by
nature to which I am particularly affectionate. You can see so
many things in New York, especially for what concerns the
hyper-realism. It is impossible not to be influenced!”
Your paintings
showcase a vision of cityscapes- what has the most effect on
you? What is the difference in portraying Bologna and New York?
“At the moment, I
depict both Bologna and New York because these are two cities to
which I am particularly attached; Bologna, since it is the city
where I was born and New York because it is a city that has
always fascinated me and I feel almost like it’s a second home
to me. There are lots of differences in representing the two
cities. Bologna is a medieval city and so the colors are warmer.
The yellows and reds are predominant and I am very inspired by
the perspective of the “Portici” I go under every day in
Bologna. New York, on the other side, is a city that changes
continuously, where the colors are more brilliant, the light
more intense- this helps me to be even more detailed in my
drawings.”
Besides the
cities, what else do you like to paint?
“I like painting
nature very much, as a metaphor to represent my soul, my
feelings. I like capturing every detail or color, but my leaves
and flowers are not only leaves and flowers, they represent my
life, my hopes and my fears.”
What are the
different styles of your art?
“It might seem strange that my art represents both the
cityscapes and still life, but the reality is that I live among
the two things in a related way since in both cases I paint
moments of my life. The cityscapes are made in mixed media and
are faster; so that I see them as a moment to distract myself
from the tension of the still life [paintings]. I like the
precision that, in the case of still life, becomes much more
intimate. I love using colored pencils to express my thoughts,
especially to what concerns the leaves and flowers. It is a
technique that allows me to achieve extremely precious and
detailed results.”
How much does
photography influence your art?
“Photography is a
bit like my sketchbook. I take many pictures and try to utilize
them as if they were my eyes or mind. Afterwards I find
inspiration or ideas and capture details that attract my
attention, but the observation from a real point of view still
is fundamental for me since I can see infinite particulars that
the photo usually hides.”
How does it feel
to exhibit in New York? What are the possibilities that you see
in Italy and New York for young talented artists like you?
“I’ve noticed a
great response and interest for what I do in New York. From time
to time, I get the impression that art is not taken for granted
as it is in Italy. I believe also that New York offers a lot
more for young artists. Obviously, it is an extremely
competitive market, but if an artist is skilled, I am sure that
he/she will see some results sooner or later. That’s
unfortunately not always the case in Italy, where who you know
is often more important than the skills a person might have.”
|
