Giovanni Enrico Morassutti

                                                             Photo by Francesca Magnani 

Be yourself. It is the most precious thing if you want to live fully. Strangely, we are born free, but then we forget who we are. It is backward.

Asa part of our series about “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist” I had the pleasure of interviewing Giovanni Enrico Morassutti.

Giovanni Enrico Morassutti, also known as Giovanni Morassutti, is mainly an accomplished film actor and theater director exemplary of the Method acting approach with 22 years in the field. He is also a self-taught Neo-Expressionist visual artist, curator, and founder of the international art residency Art Aia- Creatives / In / Residence fostering Sustainability in the Arts and Climate Change Theatre. He left his hometown in Italy at 18, and since then, he has lived, studied, and worked in New York, Paris, Rome, and Berlin, among other places. He has been giving international talks and has written several essays, including the foreword to the Italian version of Strasberg’s book and “Strasberg Legacy”, which was also published, as an online exhibition, by Google Arts & Culture.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

Iwas born in Veneto, Italy.

My family comes from the upper middle class.

On my father’s side, I am a member of the Morassutti family, a large patriarchal family of entrepreneurs originally from Friuli Venezia Giulia.

My paternal grandmother was an aristocrat, the daughter of Marquise Emilia Buzzaccarini, sister of opera singer Franco Zaccarini who changed his name as an artist. I belong to the creative branch.

I got my first name from my paternal grandfather, an architect.

He was a poetic person and stylish in appearance and often wore fedora hats and bow ties. He looked similar to one of his brothers: Bruno, also an architect who became internationally famous.

Being sensitive and creative and going my way makes me feel similar to them. On my mother’s side, my grandfather Eric was a self-made man of Polish origins who came to Germany and became a successful doctor. He married Ilse Schlichting, the daughter of a judge. They met at a field hospital during the second world war.

My middle name is Enrico because of him. On my mother’s side, I have a cousin Benjamin Piwko who is also an actor in Germany.

I grew up with my mother and sister since my parents divorced when I was 4. I suffered from it, even though I was a relatively happy child. I loved art and performing.

My hero was singer Michael Jackson. I danced like him at parties. I liked to be the center of attention. It made me feel seen, recognized, and appreciated.

I grew up in the city of Padua where I used to be very social and outgoing. I didn’t really like school.

After obtaining my high school diploma, I left my hometown and went to New York City to pursue my dreams.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

I have always loved the creative process, and the lifestyle of artists.

I remember in high school discovering that I wanted to be an actor. I also got insights from an art history teacher, Rodolfo Bisatti. He was very creative, and he is a successful film director. I got influenced by my cousin Stefano Morassutti Vitale, an illustrator who lived in New York in the 90ies that I visited when I was 16. I am very grateful to him. He gave me another perspective on life, and thanks to him, I discovered New York, the city where I am about to return. Also, my best friend was a very talented artist. I had a group of friends who were artists too. I started to do some installations and painting while In high school. It was also and still is a way to express myself. I believe all art is therapeutic.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I would say that being invited as an artist and founder of Art Aia — Creatives In Residence at the TransCultural Exchange’s 2022 International Conference on Opportunities in the Arts: Create the Future in Boston and receiving a stipend to present my art projects has been a blast. I am very grateful to the artist Mary Sherman for this opportunity. Not only did I meet interesting people from all over the world, but it also allowed me to visit New York, where I had a very inspiring and productive time.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I am developing my art practice thanks to the help of a friend, Andrea Cataudella. We share some themes in our work, such as loneliness.

He is a very talented Neo-expressionist artist. He is teaching me a lot about the creative process and painting techniques.

I am also collaborating as an art ambassador for the Arte Laguna Prize, an international art and design competition in Venice, Itay.

It is an honor to be a member of a distinguished organization such as MoCa. I deal with many creative institutions at an international level, such as galleries, art residencies, and, of course, other artists.

I am also working on a project about Climate Change art and performance. I am in the first phase of the creative process. I feel something on the move in my imagination. Finally, I am excited to move back to New York, where I have always felt free to be who I am.

Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?

Speaking about New York, I remember having a glass of white wine with avant-garde director Jonas Mekas in the east village during the summer in early 2000, together with my good friend Erica which I am happy to see again soon.

Also, my granduncle, Paolo Morassutti, was a very charismatic person. He was a successful entrepreneur who brought the German company Fischerwerke to Padua.

He used to drive luxury cars such as Ferrari and Rolls-Royce and make jokes but what was special about him was his sense of family. He cared about all the members. He was a very generous man and a real patriarch.

I remember a day when one of his employees came, in a van, to my house looking for me.

He said he had a letter on my uncle’s behalf.

I opened it, and there was a message in which he wished me good luck with my career, encouraging me to follow my dreams together with a 1000 US dollars travel check. I was 18 and about to move to New York. I felt so supported by him. I wish I could talk to him sometimes and ask for advice.

Where do you draw inspiration from? Can you share a story about that?

Sure, I start with an idea or a vision. I imagine something that I want to create, and then I sketch. When I paint, I let my instinct flow. Lots of things inspire me. I would say that my personal experience is probably the principal source. Also, the work of other artists, attending a concert, or reading a book are good sources of inspiration.

I made a documentary film Personal Dream Space, a term conceived by my acting mentor John Strasberg.

It is the place where we imagine what we want to create. For example, an architect sees a bridge in his imagination, and then the work is to make it real. It all starts with a vision or a dream. As you know, I have deepened the study of Method acting and the Organic Creative Process, a conscious intuitive process where an artist makes the invisible world visible. I believe this is true in all forms. In my art practice, I always aim to express my conscious vision and what I have to say about life.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

I would say that I am trying to make people aware of the Climate Crisis by fostering sustainability in the arts. As a director, I work on Climate Change Theater, collaborating with Environmental associations such as Legambiente. I want to socially connect people to enforce a sense of community and equality. I believe that human beings in nature are empathetic and compassionate. Love is the main force, but unfortunately, we built a society based on other values like competition and aggressiveness. I was hoping the pandemic would have created some changes, which I don’t see enough.

                                                              Photo by Gio Redigonda

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

Be yourself.

It is the most precious thing if you want to live fully. Strangely, we are born free, but then we forget who we are. It is backward.

Show your vulnerability.

I wished I didn’t have all these conditioning ideas of being strong. I feel complete and alive when I express my emotions and vulnerability.

Don’t look for approval.

Looking for approval is normal, but it can become a prison where you never feel you are enough.

Play

Life is hard. It is serious, but it is like a playground if you think about it. Nothing is permanent.

Love

It is the most important thing of all. Love towards yourself, others, or what you do.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I would love people to be free in the deep meaning of the word. I believe that everyone should be able to truly and fully be him or herself, which is very hard nowadays and probably has always been.

I believe art gives you moments when you can reach such a state, like being in harmony with nature. I guess my movement aims to connect these two spheres with great love.

We have been blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she just might see this.

At the moment, I would like to have a private lunch with whoever will decide if I will get the artist visa to live and work in the US.

I would try to show him my desire and commitment to continuing to work in the area of my expertise in New York and LA.

What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?

I am not an Instagram person. I still use Facebook more often. I am also a Goodreads author, and my essays are on Academia which I guess can be considered social media.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Thank you.

An interview by Yitzi Weiner published in Authority Magazine

Giovanni Morassutti. Photo by Teresa Marenzi

At the moment, I am consolidating collaborations with several international partners and with the Region of Friuli- Venezia Giulia. The activities of the art center resonate with the local community. The outcomes of my projects are usually open to the public and have received a particular interest among the local people.

I am also aiming to foster cultural tourism and community involvement. Friuli- Venezia Giulia is a culturally unique region shaped by history, traditions and art. I would love to collaborate with other local entities. I would say that at this stage, the three things that would support my effort would be to promote my cause, donate to the art center, and collaborate on our projects.

As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Giovanni Morassutti.

Giovanni Morassutti (born March 15, 1980, in Padua) is an Italian actor, director, writer, artist, and cultural entrepreneur. He is a graduate of the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, and representative of Method Acting, being a long-time student and collaborator of John Strasberg and having also studied with his sister Susan in the late ’90s. Since 2001 he has acted in more than 20 films, including independent films, prime time tv, and international films. In 2016 he wrote the foreword to the Italian version of Strasberg´s book “ Accidentally on Purpose: Reflections on Life, Acting and the Nine Natural Laws of Creativity ”. Giovanni Morassutti is the founder of Art Aia — Creatives / In / Residence, an international art residency and arts school located in the countryside of the north-eastern Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia that focuses on developing the creative process, holism and sustainable practices by preserving biodiversity and facilitating cultural exchange across borders.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you share with us the “backstory” that led you to this career path?

Thank you for having me. It is a real pleasure to be interviewed by you.

I would rather talk about my path as a cultural entrepreneur and artistic director of an art-related organization since that is where I see my main contribution to making a social impact. As an actor, I can only say that each time I work on a character I always try my best to put myself in its shoes as a human being rather than an actor.

I love nature. It inspires me and makes me feel in harmony with myself. I am hurt when I see how the worst kind of humanity is destroying it just for making a profit. Issues like marine pollution, deforestation, and unethical hunting make me feel sad and angry. I am also concerned about global warming and all related threats to biodiversity. I feel a strong emotional need to sensibilize people about this issue. Founding the international art residency Art Aia — Creatives / In / Residence represents my contribution to an environmental cause as well as to a holistic approach to the arts. My father has taught some courses in the venue when it still was an agricultural center in the late nineties to develop creativity within a natural setting. Subsequently, I have added cultural and artistic proposals to international artists’ initiatives related to experimentation and research in sustainable practices as well as in some of the major categories within the liberal arts like theatre and fine art.

Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career? What was the lesson or take away that you took out of that story?

Well, that would be producing the first artist-in-residence program of the project Mappe Fluide by Marsala 11 in 2014.

As the result of an open call, I have selected the art collective Marsala 11 to develop a project aiming to research the topography of the territory. The artists, after research during a residency program, installed site-specific interventions using the old stable of the art center from the end of the 19th century and its adjacencies as an exhibition area. I was very enthusiastic about the project and I did my best to fulfill their needs while they were working on their creative process. On top of curating and tutoring their art residency, I was also preparing meals for them. I believe I am a good cook, but for some reason, they didn’t want to eat my dishes. They preferred to go to a bar in the nearest village and have some sandwiches. I have always wondered what was wrong with my pasta!

I have learned, through the experience, that you have to put boundaries, cannot do all the things at once, and need to structure an art-related organization.

What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?

I believe success is defined by how many times you can stand up from your failures; therefore, I would suggest never giving up on your dreams and trying to do the best you can to express who you are and what you want to do. In other words, determination. The challenge is to make your dreams come through in the real world which requires a lot of work and accepting many rejections. Never take it personally. It is just life and life is hard.

You use the word “emulate,” which I believe is a bit dangerous. Each of us has his path, and even if one can be inspired and learn from others, it comes down to your journey. Follow what you are called upon in this world to do, which is not always easy to find. In my case, it was being an actor and a creative practitioner. My advice is to do your own thing and to listen to a few pieces of advice only from people that you trust and that you admire. Caring parents, for example, give advice all the time, and most of the time are out of love but be careful since they might be projections of their dreams and regrets, which are not necessarily yours. In terms of the acting business, I am used to saying: “Find a good teacher, don’t betray yourself to succeed and be a better person before being a better actor.”

Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?

Yes. John Strasberg, the son of Lee Strasberg, the spiritual guide of the Actors Studio. I have studied and collaborated with him for over 20 years, and I believe he helped me discover myself and my creative process. He has been a father figure and a source of artistic inspiration. To give you an example. I remember one time, in New York, I had this strong sense of guilt about some issues related to my family. After class, we walked down the streets in the theatre district of Manhattan, and I told him how I felt. He embraced me and whispered: “If your parents would have loved you a little more.” Hearing that sentence made me burst into tears. It was such a relief for me. My parents divorced when I was 4 years old. I have always had to deal with a sense of guilt, feeling inadequate. Now that I am older, I am living my life accepting the fact that my parents probably did the best they could to take good care of me so it is better, thanks to him and other people who have helped me along the way.

How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you are working on right now?

I am not giving up, and I am still trying to do what I dream about doing, which is my success. In terms of my cause, I am giving the possibility to people worldwide to focus on their creative process and discover the natural beauty of my home region thanks to artist-in-residence programs and courses in the arts and humanities.

I am creating new possibilities for collaboration among thinkers of all fields.

Art Aia Studios is one of my latest projects aiming to offer masterclasses on the Organic Creative Process and Method Acting to actors, directors, and writers, as well as Scenic arts and Sustainability thanks to my various collaborators.

Can you share with us the story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?

I had so many moments in which, while being in nature, I felt in harmony with myself, and I believed that it is one of the main reasons why I have resiliently chosen this cause. As a kid, I kept frogs in my pockets and looked at the trees and the flowers for hours. Nature has always attracted me. It nurtures my soul. I believe that the fact that our planet is facing vast environmental problems is a very urgent topic, and I am doing my best to express that to a global audience through holistic art practices, creativity, and community engagement.

Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?

In 2018 I collaborated with the English associations the Arts Territory Exchange and the Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts in the residency in sustainable practices. Two international artists, Beatrice Lopez from Norway and Kelly Leonard from Australia came to spend some time at my art residency to develop their art practices related to ecology. While they were there, we visited the vineyards of Cantina Dei Principi di Porcia, an eight centuries-old winery discussing the crossovers of culture and sustainable agriculture with Prince Guecello di Porcia who was impacted by my cause and decided to become our technical sponsor with his energy-saving company.

While at his farm, the artists have realized a performance piece “Filtering” to emphasize the necessity to filter and recycle. I am grateful for having collaborated with the CSPA. They are doing a fantastic job of raising awareness about environmental balance, social equity, economic stability, and strengthened cultural infrastructure. Gudrun Filipska has written a beautiful article (Connected by a Thread) about our collaboration. I believe it expresses with clarity also my commitment to creating the kind of connections between people that lead to collective civic action, political expression, community dialogue, and shared cultural experiences.

Are there three things that individuals, society or the government can do to support you in this effort?

At the moment, I am consolidating collaborations with several international partners and with the Region of Friuli- Venezia Giulia. The activities of the art center resonate with the local community. The outcomes of my projects are usually open to the public and have received a particular interest among the local people.

I am also aiming to foster cultural tourism and community involvement. Friuli- Venezia Giulia is a culturally unique region shaped by history, traditions and art. I would love to collaborate with other local entities. I would say that at this stage, the three things that would support my effort would be to promote my cause, donate to the art center, and collaborate on our projects.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or an example for each.

Well, when you say “fist started,” I would go back to my early childhood since I believe that we are born with talent.

The challenge is to follow through with our mission, nurturing and expressing ourselves in our adult lives.

That being said I would have loved to hear the following things :

● You can do what you dream about doing because you can make it happen since you are worth it, and things will work out fine.

Our minds can be one of our worst enemies, mostly when we absorb too much criticism and pressure, which turns into negative thoughts and procrastination. We need to be self-indulgent at times.

● Your sensitivity is a gift, not a flaw. Being sensitive doesn’t mean being weak.

I would have valued myself more by accepting and trusting my sensitivity as a human being. Sensitive animals, for instance, can feel the danger before another can.

● Trust and help people around you.

I believe that real change is a collective effort and that sharing with others can bring an enormous amount of joy. Helping each other on a human and social level is a profound source of fulfillment and dignity but you still have to be careful by trusting your intuition.

● Be who you are, and don’t worry about what other people think about you.

From the Italian bourgeoisie, I grew up in an environment concerned about appearance, style, and material success considered fundamental values to be part of the “clan.” I am not saying that there are not good aspects in the upper class, but I believe that to live the life you want to live, you need to be courageous, and being an artist is an act of rebellion. It is fundamental to express what you feel, take risks, and don’t pay too much attention to people criticizing you, as I’ve said before.

● Profit is secondary in life. Commitment and quality come first.

I always wanted to be good at what I was doing to give the best part of myself to the world. It is especially true in my acting process. I think I have absorbed the original spirit of the Actors Studio at a young age where actors kept working on themselves regardless of their material success. When I focus my energy on money, power, fame, I feel unhappy and trapped in my frustrations.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 

Thanks for saying that. Once I have used this metaphor in a broadcasting interview, “A great many a drop of water will create a creek.”

I already feel part of a movement along with many other exciting artists and people who create inspiring projects across the globe. I stand up for preserving nature and its biodiversity and using art practices to express topics such as global warming and sustainability. I am also dedicated to nurturing talent and creativity.

I am committed to creating awareness of the importance of preserving culture and nature, which are pillars to a healthy society. Our approach will determine the course of the future, and we need to be an excellent example to the younger generations passing on our best knowledge, which is an essential thing if we want to change the way people look at things. For example, I am collaborating with Sadya Mizan, founder of the Uronto artist community in Bangladesh by sharing her mission to use art to preserve cultural heritage. I am moved by the collective effort of that artist community to maintain intact the Dubolhati Palace, a historical site that represents the identity of its people. In my realm, I am doing the same with the environment of my home region by communicating its natural beauties and biodiversity thanks to my international artistic collaborations and the partnership as a cultural institute with the online platform Google Arts & Culture globally. I also want to offer an alternative to standard education by creating a spontaneous circuit of artists and art-related opportunities focusing on the development of the creative process within a natural setting.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you explain how that was relevant in your life?

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty — that is all. Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know” by John Keats.

It has always inspired my art practice since the search for truth is the core of my work. While working on my first documentary film Personal Dream Space shot at the art residency, I remember John Strasberg quoting it, which inspired my cause. Art Aia- La Dolce Berlin has created the documentary, an independent production company that I have confounded in Berlin, that produces documentaries and narratives with nature, creativity, art, and gender equality. I believe that nature and art can express one of the fundamental mysterious truths of life, equal to all of us.

We are blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Politics, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

I would say, Eckhart Tolle. I admire him as a teacher, and I think he has suffered a lot. I would love to encounter his spiritual energy. I would have a private lunch or breakfast making sure to be in the present moment.

Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!

Thank you, Edward. It has been a real honor.I wish you the same.

— Published on May 30, 2021 on Thrive Global.

“Al momento, sto consolidando le mie collaborazioni con diversi partner internazionali e con la Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Le attività del centro d’arte entrano in risonanza con la comunità locale.
I risultati dei miei progetti sono solitamente aperti al pubblico e hanno ricevuto un particolare interesse tra la gente del posto.
Il mio obiettivo è anche quello di promuovere il turismo culturale e di coinvolgere ulteriormente la comunità territoriale. Il Friuli-Venezia Giulia è una regione unica culturalmente, plasmata da storia, tradizioni e arte. Mi piacerebbe collaborare con altre entità locali. Direi che in questa fase, le tre cose che possono sostenere il mio progetto consistono nel promuovere le mie attivita´, fare delle donazioni al centro d’arte e collaborare ai nostri progetti.”

Giovanni  Morassutti. Foto di Teresa Marenzi

Come parte della nostra serie di interviste sulle star che stanno avendo un importante impatto sociale, ho avuto il piacere di intervistare Giovanni Morassutti.

Giovanni Morassutti (nato il 15 marzo 1980 a Padova) è un attore, regista, scrittore, artista e imprenditore culturale italiano. Diplomato al Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, è un attore rappresentativo del Method acting, essendo stato allievo e collaboratore di lunga data di John Strasberg ed avendo studiato anche con la sorella Susan alla fine degli anni ’90. Dal 2001 ha recitato in più di 20 film, tra film indipendenti, prime tv e film internazionali. Nel 2016 ha scritto la prefazione alla versione italiana del libro di Strasberg “Per scelta, per caso. Oltre l’Actors Studio”.
Giovanni Morassutti è il fondatore di Art Aia – Creatives / In / Residence, una residenza internazionale per artisti e un centro d’arte situato nella campagna del nord-est della regione italiana Friuli-Venezia Giulia che si concentra sullo sviluppo del processo creativo, l’olismo e le pratiche sostenibili, preservando la biodiversità e facilitando lo scambio culturale attraverso i confini.

Grazie mille per questa intervista! Puoi condividere con noi cosa ti ha portato a questo percorso professionale?

Grazie per avermi invitato. È un vero piacere essere intervistato da te.
Preferirei parlare del mio percorso come imprenditore culturale e fondatore di un’organizzazione artistica perché è lì che vedo il mio principale contributo di impatto sociale. Rispetto al mio lavoro di attore posso dire che, tutte le volte che affronto un personaggio, cerco sempre di mettermi nei suoi panni da un punto di vista prettamente umano più´che come un attore.

Amo la natura. Mi ispira e mi fa sentire in armonia con me stesso. Mi sento male quando vedo come il peggior tipo di umanità la stia distruggendo solo per trarne profitto. Problemi come l’inquinamento marino, la deforestazione e la caccia abusiva mi rattristano ma soprattutto mi fanno arrabbiare. Sono preoccupato per il riscaldamento globale e per tutte le minacce che sta subendo la biodiversità. Sento un forte bisogno emotivo di sensibilizzare la gente su questo problema. Fondare la residenza artistica internazionale Art Aia – Creatives / In / Residence rappresenta il mio contributo ad una causa ambientale oltre a favorire un approccio olistico alle arti. Sono stato infatti ispirato da mio padre che ha tenuto alcuni corsi per favorire lo sviluppo della creatività in un ambiente naturale, quando Art Aia era ancora un centro agricolo. In seguito, fondando Art Aia – Creatives /In / Residence ho concepito alcune proposte ed iniziative culturali rivolte ad artisti internazionali legate alla sperimentazione e alla ricerca in pratiche sostenibili così come la programmazione di corsi di alta formazione in alcune delle principali categorie all’interno delle arti liberali come il teatro e le arti visive.

Leggi l'intervista tradotta su Nordest24

The Method narrated by Giovanni Morassutti, actor, director, artist and cultural entrepreneur close to the Strasberg family. Giovanni Morassutti has been studying the Method and the Organic creative process since early 2000.

Check the intro here

Giovanni Morassutti wins The Empty Space Film Festival  Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in the role of Damian in Lola, directed by emerging director Francesca Tasini.

The film shot in Berlin is an indie low budget produced by Art Aia - La Dolce Berlin. 

If is a LGBT story about Lola Barth, a beautiful transgender person with a very intense past. She has been in a relationship with her boyfriend Johnathan for about five years. They lived together, and about a year ago, they started the adoption process. To become a mother is the biggest dream of Lola, and she is willing to do everything possible. Her boyfriend Johnathan, who has always been close to her has a different opinion about it. He feels unsure of being a father, but he continues to proceed in order to make Lola happy. The situation changes when there is a real possibility to take a child into foster care, a child who has been refused by different families. . Will Lola be able to accomplish her dream ?

An international crew and cast for a project that wants to raise awareness about gender equality.

Giovannni Morassutti playing Damian

"I am very happy with this recognition for my commitment to acting as a transformative artform" says Giovanni Morassutti . "I did my best not to fall into clichés by working on my feminine side".

The film has won concurred for several international awards including the Chéries-Chéris in 2020.

Giovanni Morassutti, the Italian actor, director and long time student and collaborator of John Strasberg who just finished filming Italian movie Fra due battiti alongside Remo Girone, has an art related project in the pipeline, too. Morassutti,  who did also work with Ellen Stewart founder of La MaMa etc, Gus Van Sant and  Roberto Faenza among others has been living in Berlin for quite a few years now  where he had founded an art space called Art Aia - La Dolce Berlin, the German  subsidiary of Art Aia - Creatives / In / Residence in Northern Italy Friuli-Venezia  Giulia. 

Thanks to a collaboration with Google Arts and Culture  , the actor and cultural entrepreneur, together with his team, was also able to create an online exhibition tracing the work of  multiple artists as well as offering users an insight into Berlin's independent art  scene and its alternative spaces like the Institut für Alles Mögliche, Teufelsberg and  the platforms of the U-Bahn with Hip Hop rappers like Killa Hakan. Musicians like  Japanese composer Yukio Tsuji, visual and conceptual artists, illustrators,  photographers, and directors of experimental films have joined this innovative  initiative that thanks to Google technologies will reveal extraordinary details far  beyond what is visible to the naked eye. 

As Giovanni Morassutti says: "I am thrilled to have been invited to this fantastic  Festival in Milan and I feel lucky to collaborate with Google Arts & Culture. Berlin is  a city where art is considered a value, and it is respected and supported. I am glad  to tell this story that also represents my path. I thank all the artists who have  enthusiastically embraced the project. I am also happy to collaborate with Google by sharing its mission to organize information globally and make it universally accessible to all. I believe it is a huge  step towards an open and transparent society."  

Over 200 artefacts, including rare videos and images will also be available  allowing everyone to explore site specific installation and artifacts in extraordinary detail , as the shape of Filtering an installation realized in partnership  with the winery Cantina Principi di Porcia, a winery that existed for over 800 years.  

Some of the most important items of the online exhibitions are::  

● An interview under the porch of the Small Church of St Anthony of Padua at Art  Aia - Creatives / In /  Residence with John Strasberg, son of Lee Stasberg, director of the Actors Studio.          

● Sustainability in the arts. Visiting artists meeting an Italian Prince in the lands of  Friuli               Venezia Giulia.  

●Uronto Artist Community at The Dubolhati Palace in Bangladesh and some of its  art practice and their  ancient traditional style  

●Mappe fluide. Site-specific installations in an old stable from the end of the 19th  century reused as an art  and exhibiting space in the art center.  

About Art Aia - Creatives / In / Residence 

Art Aia - Creatives / In / Residence is an international art residency located near the  comune of Sesto al Reghena in the north 

eastern Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It's a place for artistic production and  research that focuses on  

the development of the creative process and facilitates cultural exchange across  borders.  

About Google Arts & Culture 

Google Arts & Culture is a new, immersive way to experience art, history, culture  and world wonders from over a thousand organizations worldwide. Google Arts &  Culture has been created by the GoogleCultural Institute and it is available for free  for everyone on the web, on iOS and Android. Read more here.

Giovanni Morassutti is an Italian actor and theatre director graduated from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. He currently lives in Berlin, Germany where he also manages Art Aia – La Dolce Berlin, a project space that hosts artists from all over the world, giving them an opportunity to showcase their work. He is also the founder of Art Aia – Creatives / In / Residence which is an art residency located in the countryside of northern of Italy that offers space to artists to develop their creative process within a natural setting.

The garden of Art Aia - Creatives / In / Residence

Hi Giovanni , can you please tell us what is the cross-disciplinary artist residency program that you offer at Art Aia – Creatives / In / Residence ?
Yes . Every summer, Art Aia-Creatives / In / Residence, offers a cross-disciplinary Artist in Residence program open to international artists that culminates with an exhibiting event which is generally open to the local public.
What are your focuses as a cultural entrepreneur ?
During a broadcast interview few years ago I used this metaphor to describe my philosophy of life: “A great many drops of water will create a creek,” by which I mean that we must collaborate to make change. In my realm, I’m trying to use art practices to promote sustainability. My art residency in Italy is developing programs in order to raise audience consciousness about topics like global warming and climate change.
Please tell us about your international collaborations
Since 2018, Art Aia – Creatives / In / Residence collaborates with the Arts Territory Exchange in the Residency in Sustainable Practice which is an off-shoot programme that has been formed in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts (CSPA). Two artists per year have the opportunity to develop their practices in relation to ideas of ecology and sustainability by attending a one week residency at the Italian art center.
Here is an extract from the CSPA report:
Art Aia Creatives / In / Residence in Friuli provided an interesting backdrop through which to engage with ideas of sustainability extending beyond the materiality of the art world, the artists were able to visit vineyards and factories and discuss the crossovers of culture and sustainable agriculture with their host Giovanni Morassutti. Giovanni says his Art Aia residency space has its interests in ‘Creating the kind of connections between people that lead to collective civic action, political expression, community dialogue, shared cultural experiences.
And what about your partnership with Sadya Mizan, founder of URONTO ARTIST COMMUNITY in Bangladesh ?
Basically Art Aia – Creatives / In / Residence collaborates with Artist-Led Open Collective Uronto Artist Community affiliated with Art Initiative Bangladesh-AIB and I have been part of the selection board along with independent curator Sadya Mizan. I have co-curated the 8th and 9th Episode of the Uronto Residential Art Exchange Program.
And Art Aia – La Dolce Berlin ? 
Art Aia-La Dolce Berlin is a presentation space, a Pop-up Gallery where artists can showcase their works in a familiar and intimate atmosphere while having an opportunity to get to know Berlin´s lively artistic scene. La Dolce Berlin also organizes social dinners and wine tastings promoting Italian food and wine in particular from northern region Friuli Venezia Giulia. Art Aia – La Dolce Berlin is also an independent production company currently specializing in documentaries and low-end narratives with themes including: nature, creativity, art and gender equality.

Many Wineries have merged Wine and Art as a marketing strategy and brand positioning. Italian Ornellaia, one of the most prestigious Tuscan wines, has created that union in 2008 by allowing his wine labels to be a platform for contemporary art or Sicilian Donna Fugata which has also established a dialogue with the exhibition dedicated to “Illustrations by Stefano Vitale, wine and Sicily” in 2018.

There is also a new experimental approach in the art world to literary merge and integrate the wine bottles into the art pieces. Historical Friulian Winery Cantina Principi Di Porcia has started a collaboration with avant-garde project space Art Aia – La Dolce Berlin who recruits some of its artists to integrate the Friulian wine brand into their artworks:“The collaboration with Art Aia has allowed us to explore art in a creative form that finds Wine and artistic works united in winning synaesthesia in which taste and visual sensorial spheres interpenetrate“, says Prince Guecello di Porcia who is also an art lover and supporter of cultural events. Several emerging artists have been joining this challenge so far like American painter Wyatt Mills, Sarah Woelker from Berlin, Irish James Devlin, Annelisa Leinbach, Ucrainia Illustrator Mariana Panchuk and also Giovanni Morassutti with his video art piece “Ribolla” also featured on Arte Laguna World.

“Winemaking is an artistic creation in which you deal with a variety of styles, colors, and inspiration. Therefore good wine, like good art, can evoke emotions, sensations and create an experience which leaves a lasting impression.” – Giovanni Morassutti

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