Interview
Massimo Meo
Massimo Meo is a multidisciplinary artist based in Montreal, Quebec.
After graduating with a BFA in film studies from Concordia University in 2013, Massimo navigated his way through various high-profile film projects as a Visual Effects Producer on projects for Warner Brothers, Marvel, and Walt Disney. He did all this while simultaneously pursuing the boundaries of his abstract art.
Massimo has used this platform to experiment with story and the subconscious freely, using color and pattern. His ambitions continue to lie between his passion for cinema and his devotion to the abstract form.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I am a self-taught, multidisciplinary artist working primarily in the fields of painting and film. I've been painting since I can remember, but have been doing this professionally for nearly a decade now.
Navigating this journey has not always been easy, and putting aside the actual creative process, the journey has not always been pleasant. As an emerging artist, I don't necessarily feel like I have made a place in the art world...yet. Nearly ten years later, I still feel like I'm right at the start of my journey, which is both exciting and daunting.”
What inspires you most?
“For me, the most inspiring part of creating is the process itself. I find myself in a very cyclical relationship with the act of creating. Months can go by without feeling the desire to paint, and the last thing that I will ever do is force this process. Desire and intention are the pillars of my inspiration, and this can bring forward both positive and negative feelings organically. These feelings are what I push into the work, and I hope they are apparent in the final pieces.”
“I love it when someone says they are attracted to one of my pieces, but cannot find the words to express why they feel this way. It is in the relationship between the work and instinct/intuition that abstract lives.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Over the past couple of years, I’ve found myself leaning on and exploring themes of control and restriction. As an abstract artist, it seems fair to say that my work doesn't attempt to represent a linear view of reality. It is in the subconscious that I find the most exciting depictions of existence. In this light, I’ve found it more interesting to leave my works without concrete definitions. I believe the viewer has a part in the relationship that a definition would otherwise taint.”
Which artists influence your work most?
“While I can't say that any artist influences my work directly, maybe they do subconsciously. I'd say Cleon Peterson is an artist whose work I've been drawn to for many years. Maybe it’s his comment on political, social, and gender roles, or simply the minimalist composition. His work is aggressive and literal, in a graphic way that is different from my abstract form. I find this refreshing and inspiring.”
What is your creative process like?
“The process is quite meditative. Before starting on a piece of work, I usually take some time to plan the piece's tone and flow, manipulating the fabric over a few days before settling on its overall form. This is the most crucial stage of the process, as it will be the foundation for all the inks and acrylics. Once it is done, it cannot be undone. From here, I begin to play with color and the mediums themselves. Each type of ink/watercolor interacts differently with the fabric and needs to be applied at different stages. The inks go through various drying levels and re-applications, allowing time in between to revisit the work with fresh eyes. I will then alter and adjust the pigments as needed.”
“If I was to use one word to describe my work, it would be: Symbiotic.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“This is a tough one, but I'd have to say the role of an artist is to reflect. To reflect internalized feelings, social issues, and the like. I don't mean a literal mirror reflection, though it very well can be, but a review that is filtered or magnified through the artist's eyes. These exposed feelings capture a moment in time that I feel is the ultimate tool for discussion today, and more so for future reference.”
Website: www.massimomeo.com
Instagram: @massimo.meo
