What inspired you to create works of art and to become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to be an artist. From an early age I was interested in drawing and later, in fine arts, in matter, sculpture and especially the concept. I had the feeling that thanks to art, everything became possible and that I would never have the impression of "working" in my life. Living daily from your passion is something rare and beautiful. Even today I am fascinated by the infinite potential that artistic creation can have on ourselves, our emotions and our thoughts.
What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far?
After my diploma in fine arts, I worked as a stylist and graphic designer to finally, on the strength of these experiences, become a teacher in an art school and develop my career as an artist. All these trades allowed me to develop my skills and my techniques. Today, in my artistic work, we find screen printing, computer graphics, photography, molding, inclusion in resin, etc. As said above, I kept a child's soul and it shows in my work where many of my works are directly inspired by the pop culture of the 80s.
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
What influences my work, and which certainly differentiates me from other artists, is the fact of drawing inspiration directly from the various professions that I have exercised and that I still exercise. Many aspects, in my way of working, whether for the management of my career or even directly in the design or the realization of the works themselves for example, come from my various professional experiences. Fashion, graphics, etc. Being today responsible for the arts in a higher art school, I also learn a lot from my students and these permanent artistic exchanges enrich me. All these professional experiences shaped me and shaped my way of working. Also, I almost entirely manage my career, from the website to sales, social networks, etc. In short, the three aspects that differentiate me from other artists could be my different professional experiences in various artistic circles, the fact of teaching art to future professionals and the management of my career.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I am directly inspired by pop art and pop culture of the 80s. I work a lot on the characters and personalities that marked my childhood and that of many people. Often the objects and figurines included in the resin are the same ones I played with as a child. I also tackle more recent subjects, even current ones, but always in a pop and retro trend.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
What I seek to evoke in the spectator is the same thing that I feel when I produce my works, that is to say a positive nostalgia, a kind of wonder and a desire to touch the object, like a child who sees a toy. I also want to mark visually. For example, my works are signed, not with my name, but with my imprint.
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?
The process of designing and creating my works can be spontaneous or long depending on the theme and the desired rendering.
Do you use a particular working technique? if so, can you explain it?
Yes I do a lot of statuettes, the "roboclusions". They are made of inclusion resin with objects or color pigments embedded inside. They are then often engraved according to my drawings with a laser machine. I also use the screen printing technique for some of my paintings.
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
Few artists work with transparent inclusion resin and the inclusion of figurines inside the sculptures.
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why ?
When I design and produce, I think directly about the place my works will take among collectors or art lovers. Also, these are easily transportable and exposable even in a private home.
Where do you produce your works? At home, in a shared workshop or in your own workshop? And in this space, how do you organize your creative work?
I have my own workshop with very different spaces. An office, a workshop, a room to pour my resins and finally a space for storage and preparation for sending the works. The resin being very difficult to produce (temperature, tools, chemistry, drying time, etc.), I need very distinct spaces and I am lucky to have a workshop which gives me all these spaces.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
Yes of course. This brings me sharing, exchanges. I like to discuss my concept and my creative process directly with collectors or other artists. It also allows me to enrich myself and who knows, to develop new ideas.
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
I have many projects in progress which will, I hope, appeal to all collectors, in particular NFT works or larger Roboclusions.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
Screen printing, resin, molding and computer graphics. I like to mix media and materials to compose something unique and identifiable.
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
The last exhibition that marked me and in which I had the chance to participate was the Goldo Expo II at the Sakura gallery in Paris. I've been a big fan of Grendizer since childhood and he comes up regularly in my themes. Being able to exhibit my works, in the midst of all these other artists passionate about Grendizer, was an important moment for me and my career.
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why ?
A compression from Caesar. Beyond the aesthetic aspect, it's the whole approach that I like: Compress, reduce and therefore destroy objects to create works of art; give free rein to chance and abandon the traditional sculpture of the artist's hand.
If you could invite one famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?
Andy Warhol without hesitation. We would spend the evening at my studio and I would introduce him to all my works inspired directly by him. We would discuss his life, art and new techniques in art. For example, I think he would be fascinated by NFTs.
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
