Interview
Paola Di Legge
Paola Di Legge is a self-taught biophilic artist. An Italian national, she’s been living in Dublin, Ireland for 20 years.
After a career in cyber-crime investigation and project management, she decided to take a career break during which she discovered the world of preserved plants and mosses that stay green and vibrant for years with no maintenance needed. She started handcrafting moss art for her home, and experienced the benefits of reconnecting with nature indoors through moss art.
Paola decided to share her passion and founded Ninfa Studio in late 2019. The name comes from sweet memories of her childhood in the Garden of Ninfa, a beautiful botanical garden south of Rome full of charm and magic, which has been named as the most romantic garden in the world by the New York Times. Paola wishes to awe and inspire people with her biophilic artwork in the same way she has been inspired by nature throughout her lifetime.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“After 15 years in the corporate world, during a career break, I discovered that the root of my discomfort was being so disconnected from nature. Spending every day at a desk far from the windows, with no exposure to nature and zero natural light made me feel unwell for no apparent reason.
As I started to get out more in nature in search of my true calling, I learned a new visual language that helped me manage my mental health. I studied biophilic design and felt fascinated by the way it helps people reduce stress and improve well-being by living closer to the natural world. After creating the first moss art pieces for my new home, I experimented how the amazing preserved materials actually lasted years without needing any care! I also felt the good vibes that those pieces of natural art in my home would bring me every time I was close to them.
The benefits and well-being of living close to nature were experienced first-hand by my family and friends, who encouraged me to share this passion with the world. This led me to start my creative journey of crafting beautiful artwork using preserved nature as my brushes.”
“The engagement with my biophilic artwork makes us pause and appreciate our presence in the world through the feelings of wonder, beauty, and awe that nature induces on our body and mind.”
What inspires you?
“My inspiration is nature itself, in all its forms. Organic shapes, topography, fractals, and abstract representation of natural phenomena are the strongest sources of inspiration for my work.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I like to represent natural sceneries as well as abstract designs inspired by natural elements like galaxies, the northern lights, the wind and waves. They’re represented through the colors and textures of real plants like mosses, lichens, and amaranths, which are sometimes mixed together to create unique shapes and textures.
The tri-dimensional and strong textural aspect of my work creates a unique sensory experience with nature. It awakens the senses so that we become present in and with nature.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is quite unique and mesmerizing, made with and inspired by nature. My contemporary pieces have a strong combination of textures and colors that create a particular interest from a close-up perspective as well as from a distance. Colors and patterns seem to blend, creating a sense of movement and mystery.
The feelings of awe evoked are the ones we feel when we look at a beautiful natural landscape or a natural phenomena like a shooting star or the northern lights. These awe-inspired feelings develop into an emotional human-nature connection and an awareness of our responsibility over our planet.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I’m inspired by very diverse types of art and artists. I love the use of colors of the Impressionists. Van Gogh’s Starry Night has always had a special influence on my way of interpreting and blending colors to create unique and strong effects.
I also love sacred geometries and the way they’re represented through natural elements. I feel connected to the earthscapes of Andres Amador and the land art of Jon Foreman. I love how they use nature to create mesmerizing patterns inspired by natural patterns and fractals.”
What is your creative process like?
“I usually get inspiration on a new design during the night, when I feel relaxed and centered. I then sketch the design and start working on it following my creative flow. The initial design usually develops in a different way based on my instinct, color combinations, and the materials I use. The end result is different every single time, which I thoroughly enjoy.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist’s role is to open people’s minds to different perspectives and perceptions, bringing their attention to a particular topic or feeling, or reminding them of the beauty that a human is capable of creating. Every type of art evokes some type of feelings and makes us feel alive.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My career in the art world started in Q1 2023. So far, my work has been part of online exhibitions like the following that took place in 2023:
- The 5th COLOR, an International Juried Art competition by Teravarna Art Gallery of Los Angeles. My work, Hope won a finalist award.
- Abstract art exhibition of the Light Space & Time online art gallery.
- Shades of Green 2023 by Camelback Gallery, where I also won a finalist award with the same art piece, Hope.
