Interview
Cristian Bardelli
Disturbing paintings, richly textured colors, and contrasts that explode through oil colors, acrylics, resins, and quartz represent the restless spirit of Cristian Bardelli, the self-taught artist born in Montevarchi in the province of Arezzo.
This mysterious artist expresses his vivid imagination in his paint, which is powerfully thrown directly onto canvas with strong brushstrokes, creating abstract art, where colors become fundamental, gain prominence and sing to each other in tones and final compositions with great appeal.
He has the ability to take everything around us from the visible to the invisible, with rich colors and shapes that arise from within a profound and troubled soul.
Each work of art always reveals the artist, guarding secrets that communicate with the public through quick, dry movements that constantly assemble and disassemble the reality surrounding it. His work focuses on contemporary issues that reflect social aspects, gender inequality, power dynamics, divisions of roles, and the relationship between man and nature.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My journey in the world of art began 4 years ago returning from a trip to Sicily, I felt the need to express myself so I bought canvases, colors, brushes and palette knives. It remains difficult to specify where my path as an artist began because I did not have an academic path and it was a request, an "emergency" I needed to express myself so I started experimenting. I am self-taught, so I have no limits, my thinking is free, I do not know patterns, it is my instinct that together with my attitude I prevail over everything.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My works "fix" personal feelings or some visions. There are moments in which the state of mind pushes you to do works on social and political themes, such as to reflect (consumerism - covid - dynamics of power - being human and nature - west and east).”
“Each work of art always reveals the artist, guarding secrets that communicate with the public through quick, dry movements that constantly assemble and disassemble the reality surrounding it.”
Which current art world trends are you following?
“I am attracted to, and look for artists of the past, or in any case contemporary, who lived during the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. In particular, I follow American contemporary art.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“The great thing about being an artist is that you can choose to plan, or not to plan.”
What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
“I am an experimenter: I use many materials and colors, oil, acrylic, resins, quartz, gypsum, graphite, powder, earth, silicone, etc.”
What does your art mean to you?
“My art for me means freedom. There are two ways to be free: the first, to be an artist. The second, to have nothing.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“There are many favourite works of art; the difference is what moment of life you are in.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’ve participated in a group exhibition at the Castel dell'Ovo, Naples with the Amedeo Modigliani Foundation, and another exhibition with the Florence Franco Zeffirelli Foundation.
In the year 2022, I will begin with a solo exhibition in a gallery in New York. Then I will be present in Peschiera, Italy in May in a permanent exhibition.”
Instagram: @_cristianbardelli
