Inside the Studio

Paolo Damiani

What are the major themes you pursue in your works?

I deal with different themes; I divide them into cycles that I call “SERIES”.

The “SERIES” are works ranging from portraits to interiors, and reworks of authors of the past. l love to study and paint archeological findings, because it represents our historical memory. Therefore, my themes become the opportunity to explain my emotions. The subject is not necessarily my main interest, but it gives me the possibility to express myself through the act of painting. Gestures, colors, and signs are the main actors of my work. In fact, what is generally known as conceptual art has never produced a significant impact on my paintings.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?

To study the history of art, one must look at the art of contemporary artists, and absorb it in order to develop one’s own art.

Prefer to work with music or in silence?

In silence.

If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?

Rembrandt’s self portraits.

Who are your favorite writers?

Pier Paolo Pasolini, Jean Genet, and Haruki Murakami–just to mention some of them.