Head V

This work is part of a new series I began in december last year (2021). I want to make a series with works to contemplate. Indian Waterproof ink and Winsor & Newton Watercolor on Fabriano 300gsm Acid free paper

I'm born in Antwerp (1973). My father was of Italian descent (Sardinia) and my mother was Belgian. I started my Art education with a year of studying Illustration (1993) where I learned the basic techniques. But I chose to study Painting the following year (1994) because I wanted to explore my personal expression. During my painting studies (1994-1998), the first two years I mainly drew from observation: figure drawing, still lifes, interiors. During the second year of figure drawing, I started drawing without looking at the paper (blind drawing). This was the impulsion to start making 'my own' work in the third year. This is the moment (1996) when I started making abstract 'Amorphous' drawings. These are drawings in which I leave the perception of reality behind me to discover my own inner shape world. This on the basis of the technique 'écriture automatique' that was often used by the Surrealists. After making drawings and paintings with 'Amorphous' forms, I felt the need to create those forms in other media, which manifested itself in prints, sculptures, installations, photography and videos. In the fourth year (1998) I wanted to explore the narrative and this resulted in twenty digital photo collages. For three years I continued to make photo collages (1999-2001). That is the reason why I decided to study Comics (2001-2003). I made a biographical Graphic Novel and published a few short stories in a few magazines, but I felt the urge to create 'free' Artworks again without any limits of expression. So in 2004 I started making abstract 'Amorphous' drawings again in 'écriture automatique'. Until in November 2005, I visited a friend who had a Surrealist-style painting on his wall. The use of symbols in that painting invited me to start my series 'Imaginary Rooms' in which I use figuratively recognisable motifs. For me it's actually a kind of diary in 'écriture automatique' in which I hope to communicate with the viewer. Last December (2021) I started a new series which I call 'Head' series. I would like to create works to contemplate.

After years of observing and drawing from nature (models, still lifes, interiors, landscapes), I was looking for a method of working that could keep an adventure for myself and could keep me surprised of my own work.

I discovered the technique of 'écriture automatique' (automatic drawing) in 1996. My working method is the following: I start drawing directly on an empty sheet of paper with Indian ink (without a sketch in pencil). I start drawing a few lines. I decide a shape somewhere on the paper. And this shape dictates me what I have to draw next to keep the composition 'in balance'. I don't have a plan, I don't know what is going to appear. That's exactly the state of mind I want or need to create. I started my abstract 'Amorphous' series in 1996 with this method.

In 2005 I visited a friend and discovered a Surrealist painting on his wall that reminded me of the works by the painter Giorgio de Chirico. The use of symbols in this painting invited me to begin the series 'Imaginary rooms' in which I use for the first time visually recognisable elements in the hope to be able to communicate more with the viewer. But my working method kept the same. All the 'Imaginary Rooms' are made with the same technique of 'écriture automatique'. I hope that you will be able to enter my work with your own imagination and gives you a moment of visual pleasure, dream or contemplation.