Interview
Star, The Artist
After artistic studies, Star began cultivating a passion for special effects, a field they mastered while working in television and theater. Their first exhibitions date back to 2006 between Italy and France, followed by a long period of reflection in recent years. Now, Star Is back!
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“There was no real beginning; for as long as I can remember, I’ve always had pencils in my hands. I have always been drawing, or shaping clay and plasticine.”
What inspires you?
“Anything around me can become a source of inspiration. And just when I think I’m the greatest... Crash! I see an artist who blows my mind and I think, ‘No way! They are better than me.’”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I have changed a lot. Twenty years ago, I was a more figurative artist, mostly portraying female faces. Then, after a sabbatical of almost 15 years where I dedicated myself to music, the flame was rekindled—but with a mature, disillusioned, perhaps even cynical and direct vision. I started writing what I had inside, maybe because words remain the most direct and satisfying way to express a concept... don't you think?”
How would you describe your work?
“I would define my work as Conceptual Neo-Pop, or maybe Direct Neo-Pop, or Neo Direct Pop, Conceptual Neo-Kitsch. I don’t really know. One day, an art critic will say, ‘Star was the pioneer of such-and-such genre.’”
Which artists influence you most?
“All of Pop Art from the '50s and '60s onwards, as well as some incredibly talented artists I see on Instagram today.”
What is your creative process like?
“Sometimes I see or hear niche words or terms like ‘Pinky Violence,’ or latest-generation neologisms that sound good, and I decide to put them on ‘canvas’ (plexiglass). Other times, I simply write what I'm feeling at that moment, and that's how works like Shame, Relax, Shit, or Shall We Have a Child? come to life. I just start, without any preparatory drawings. I stand in front of my medium, grab the brush and the paint, and tell myself: ‘Come on, let's see what you can do!’ I always have to overcome that initial fear of not making it; it's a leap into the void.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“You see, artists are divided into two categories: house painters, and those who must always go against the system. It doesn’t matter which category you belong to—the important thing is that someone pays you to do it.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Between past and recent exhibitions, I participated in several group and solo shows in Bologna and Paris between 2006 and 2010. This year, I have had the opportunity to exhibit in group shows in Berlin, Milan, Strasbourg, Zug (Switzerland), and Quebec City (Canada).”
Website: starurbanartist.my.canva.site/star-urban-artist
Instagram: @star.urbanartist
Other links: www.saatchiart.com
