_{Image courtesy of Amalia Gil-Merino}

Interview: Amalia Gil-Merino

Luca Curci talks with artist Amalia Gil-Merino during RITUALS of ANIMA MUNDI festival in Venice 2017.

Born in Spain, Amalia Gil-Merino studied in Paris and Berlin, where she graduated from the University of Fine Arts and FU in 2008 and in Salzburg Academy of Fine Arts with Norbert Bisky and Ai Weiwei. The parallelism between ancient cultures, forgotten myths and our multicultural contemporary society in her work comes from her double M.A. in Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East.This archaeological background is the essence of her art, which lays on the use of pigments and semi-precious minerals as well as the (ánthropos), “human”, and (morphe), “shape”. Her work, recognized with various awards, has been shown in Berlin, Barcelona, New York, London, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong, with solo exhibitions in France, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia. Her artistic practice explores the relationship between geology and ethnicity, the anthropomorphism and the metamorphosis of the uncanny as well as the balance between our mythological heritage and identity.

_{Image courtesy of Amalia Gil-Merino}

Luca Curci – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this exhibition? How it is connected to the theme of RITUALS -ANIMA MUNDI?

Amalia Gil-Merino – The artwork “Rituals of Jade” is made with pure pigments from Jade, Serpentine and Earth pigments. The minerals together with living entities relate to the world in a similar way as the human soul is connected to the human body. This secret force, the hidden connection of “the soul of the world” ANIMA MUNDI, appears in the “Ritual”, where the hidden soul finds, develops itself, disappearing, killing the past and transforming the future to evolve in a new form. In the pyramidal composition of “Rituals of Jade” the concept of ANIMA MUNDI is the invisible energy behind natural and artificial elements that allows the planet to live. This contemporary globalization interconnects with the pigments used: Jade (China), Serpentine (Afghanistan) and earth pigments (Europe).

_{Image courtesy of Amalia Gil-Merino}

L. C. – What do you think about the concept of this event? In which way did it inspire you?

A.G.M. – The myth of Atlantis, Platon’s ANIMA MUNDI, “the visible living entity containing all other living entities” is not only a Western concept. We can find similarities in Eastern philosophy, Buddhism or Taoism. This is inspiring. Nowadays we should reconsider if our conflicts are the result of being blind to our similarities. Hope can change the world reconsidering these similarities. There is nothing more contemporary especially in Europe right now. When I remember my father (1914-2009), who fought in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), he never lost hope. Picasso’s “Guernica” still shows this hope, this soul. Anima Mundi is a key concept to the VIVA ARTE VIVA La Biennale di Venezia 57th International Art Exhibition curated by Christine Macel.

_{Image courtesy of Amalia Gil-Merino}

L.C. – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?

A.G.M. – Since my childhood I dream with metamorphosis and transformation. In the era of the internet, change is indeed part of our lives. Through projects around the world (China, Thailand, Indonesia) I am fascinated especially with this transformation in different cultures, from legends and myths, from reality to imagination. This belongs to the Romanticism in the most pure way: connected to nature and the humankind.

L.C. – Did your style change over the years? How? Which are your artistic projects for the future?

A.G.M. – I suppose yes but in an unconscious way. From Salzburg and my degree in Berlin I was honoured to have fantastic professors like Bisky and Ai Weiwei. They let me free: everything was possible. But at the very end you have to find yourself, your own path, strongly believing with hard work. We don’t think in style but in art. Even if painting is my primary work, I am experimenting for future projects, where everything is possible.

_{Image courtesy of Amalia Gil-Merino}

L.C. – What do you think about ITSLIQUID GROUP and new cooperation?

A.G.M. – Since 2016 with BORDERS-FUTURE LANDSCAPES during La Biennale di Venezia, 15. Mostra Internazionale di Architettura”Reporting from the front” I’ve been working with ITSLIQUID GROUP under Curator Arch. Luca Curci. Its exhibitions are very powerful, not only because of the Palazzo in Venice, Buenos Aires or Shanghai but because of the contemporary statement they transmit. Along with their professionality they believe in the artists they represent, they take care of all, so you feels: the artwork is true art itself.

L.C. – Do you think that this experience could be useful for artists and can contribute to increase personal background?

A.G.M. – There are many ways to build an artist career but above all we have to believe. All the team of Its Liquid Group believe in us, so of course this is very encouraging. This is just the beginning of a long art friendship to build together a new future.