Interview
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Alessandra Viola
Alessandra Viola is a self-taught Italian abstract artist whose paintings have been collected by art lovers across the globe. Her work possesses that unique quality found in all great art. It connects on a deep level with the viewer and elicits a strong emotional response. Through her bold use of colour, texture and evocative abstract forms, she draws the observer into her world, tapping into a broad range of emotions.
Alessandra's work centres around her combinations of texture and colour. The acrylic paint latching onto the plaster that she often applies to her base coat, creates depth and intrigue when the light hits it from different angles. She loves to use a variety of implements from wide brushes to spatulas, pallet knives and squeegees to apply the paint in striking colour combinations or at times, shades of the same colour to create the intended mood.
Alessandra's creative process starts with her being inspired by a striking memory. Although she will work to see its fruition, it is common that the idea evolves into something else as she allows her emotions and intuition to dictate where she should go. The abstract form gives her the creative freedom to do this.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I am originally from Rome but currently living in London. My fascination with art began when I observed my father painting in his studio. From there, I took a number of courses and started to experiment, firstly by copying well-known artists' paintings in order to refine my skills and subsequently created my own pieces. People commissioned me to paint copies of famous works, then I moved into the abstract world as it felt like the place where I could best express my feelings and make sense of the world. To my surprise, people liked my originals and I began to sell them online.”
What inspires you?
“Nature and life experiences are most prevalent in my work. I'm often inspired by natural phenomena, such as the night sky, sunsets, the ocean, or images that have imprinted on my memory from my travels around the world. The world is an awe-inspiring place and I'm most awakened by my senses being heightened by the phenomena all around us that we often forget to take in or take notice of.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Recurring themes in my work seem to centre around the joy of the natural world and how it brings us moments of serenity, peace and clarity. If there's an underlying message in my work, it's undeniably a positive one - that life is to be lived and even though we all have moments of darkness and soul searching, if we can just allow ourselves to see the good that's right in front of us, even in the simplest things, life can be truly wonderful.”
“The intention is always to create art that moves and lifts you out of the ordinary world but, can often be very personal in its meaning to the individual.”
How would you describe your work?
“My abstract paintings are heavily reliant on texture and the subtle blends of colours and tones that help to create a mood and theme. I discovered a couple of techniques (influenced by artists such as Gerhard Richter and Mark Rothko), such as using squeegees to drag layers of colour across the canvas, or creating textures for the colours to cling on using acrylic plaster applied with a spatula. I will use one of these as the basis of most of my paintings, whilst changing the form, composition and colour pallet according to the mood or subject matter of the painting. The common goal or result is to evoke a strong emotional reaction in the viewer. One which will vary from person to person and day to day, depending on how the light hits the painting, or the angle they are viewed from.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Gerhard Richter, Mark Rothko and Piet Mondrian are the strongest and most obvious influences on my work. I have at one time or another taken an idea or technique of theirs and developed it into my own style. I particularly love the way all three artists use colour as a primary source to evoke a mood or thoughts beyond what is merely on the canvas.”
What is your creative process like?
“Creatively, I may often have a particular starting point, such as an image of a natural phenomenon - like the view of the sky at dusk, the textures of the ocean, or I may simply have a colour palette and a technique as my launchpad. If the latter is the case, I will allow my mood and feelings to guide me and oftentimes, a theme or subject matter will emerge through a number of paintings created on the same day or week. On a number of occasions, I have gone in with a group concept for a number of paintings I intend to work on, such as my 'Future Women' collection. In this set, I wanted to combine my abstract style with a tangible human element.”
“Although I have been inspired by numerous abstract artists over the years, I am always taking new inspiration from my experiences and travels. From the incredible scale of street art on the side of a building in Berlin to the neon signs covering Tate Britain or the sights and shapes I encounter on a local walk along the River Thames. Hopefully, this keeps it interesting enough for you to come back for another look!”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Art is the very thing that makes us human. The fact that we feel and express subtle, complex and deep emotions and can find comfort, understanding and make some sense of our lives through a painting, poem or song, is the reason we are inextricably drawn to art in all its forms. As long as humans continue to grapple with the bigger questions of our existence (and particularly as our lives and society become more complex and cluttered), art will play an increasingly vital and irreplaceable role in opening our eyes, souls and hearts to the joy and despair of living.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“ One of my noteworthy exhibitions was at the London Art Biennale 2021”
