Interview
Antonella Massa
Antonella is a painter. She creates paintings, drawings and pottery. She’s an art therapist and writer. Antonella published two novels and she is currently writing the third. Her works are featured in public collections and commissions. She has participated in many group exhibitions including Artegiovane, Manzoni room in Milan; UCAI artists collective, Milanese artistic family in Milan; Artedonna, Artefactum Museum in Treviglio BG; among others. She has had many solo exhibitions including Peint-à-porter, Mind in Italy Art & Design, Bergamo; Mareterranea, Ex Chiesa grande, Bussana di Sanremo IM; Mareterranea 2, Castello di Pagazzano BG; among others.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I began to paint when I was young thanks my uncle who is a post impressionist painter. Then, I attended for a long time the atelier of a master painter and sculptor who graduated in Arts Academy of Bergamo. I started my personal work in 1989 with my first exhibition.”
What inspires you?
“I am very curious and interested in colours, shapes, suggestions, nature and primitive cultures. I think that our mind can have many potential evocations and stimulus every day.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Actually, I work following the wabi sabi Japanese concept: the perfect imperfection. I prefer to work with many materials; trying to find a full thickness speaking of life, time and humanity.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is completely absorbed by a deep personal vision of the human soul. Experiences, the past, life, feelings - this is my search.”
Which artists influence you most?
“At my age, I can say that I have not any influence, but I like Burri, Fontana, Modigliani, Schiele, Turner and Mantegna.”
“I am very curious and interested in colours, shapes, suggestions, nature and primitive cultures.”
What is your creative process like?
“I am a great observer. Any little event, internal or external, can move me to a new way of expressiveness. Knowledge, travels, other cultures, nature are all opportunities of work.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I think that an artist is also a social critic and his work is closely lied to the general sensations, but it is also necessary a great personal internal journey to be interesting and uncommon in a global world.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My most noteworhty exhibitions are: S.o.S. Sindrome di Ordinaria solitudine - Arthaus Bergamo; The objects of sleep - Ny Arts Beijing - Pechino; Mareterranea -Arthaus Bergamo, Castello Ducale di Pagazzano, Motor Village di Torino; Don't you see what I am saying - Galleria Casa Cava di Matera; Guarda in cielo- Artbox Basel - Basilea and Humanity - Museo Arte contemporanea di Ceglie Messapica.”
Website: www.antonellamassa.it
Instagram: @antonellamassa_atelier
Other links: www.facebook.com/antonella.massa1
