Interview: Beatrice Pagani
Luca Curci talks with Beatrice Pagani during FUTURE LANDSCAPES, third appointment of BORDERS ART FAIR 2021, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

“Born in Rome, I grew between brushes, colors, papers of all kinds, negatives, and dark rooms. I have been drawing for as long as I can remember, experimenting with different techniques and materials. In 2008 I graduated in Fashion Design at the European Institute of Design (IED) with a thesis on the theme of «border identity», based on the work of artist Pietro Ruffo. I studied his work and created an installation in the suspended paper: Pangea (Rome, 2008). I then became the artists’ assistant and worked for several years in his studio at Pastificio Cerere. Over the years I enriched my artistic skills by attending various professional art courses, as for example the watercolor course by the Spanish master Pedro Cano. Whereas in Fashion, I worked with brands such as Capucci and Marzia Genesi Sea. My love for art and fashion led me to create Walking-in, a brand that focuses on textile research and the creation of hand-painted clothes. There is not a day that goes by without me drawing.”

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Beatrice Pagani – For me, art is celebrating the materials I choose to use and communicating my inner voice in silence.

LC – What are you currently working on?
BP – I am currently working on maps and routes, developing the main theme of my art which is borders, frontiers, and boundaries.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
BP – In my fears and in my desires.

LC – Do visitors’ suggestions enrich yourself and your art?
BP – I always consider suggestions as points of view, sometimes enriching.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
BP – However recognizable, my style has been evolving over the years by continuously researching and experimenting with materials and techniques.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this festival? How did it inspire you?
BP – I felt an immediate emotional connection to the concept of the festival.

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this exhibition? How is it connected to the theme of the entire festival?
BP – The artwork I wanted to expose is: “My Rocks” – Rocks as boundaries, as mountains that are firm and solid; rocks to climb, rocks to cling on and to find rest; rocks as islands from which to dive in the water. “My Rocks” are a physical representation of the still points that each of us has. Silently present, these rocks represent the people who have been close to me in a particular period of my life. It is connected to the theme of the festival and the relationship between body and space.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
BP – Yes absolutely, I am very pleased to show my work in Venice.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
BP – Yes, you were very present and organized. I really appreciated the constant support.

LC – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?
BP – I would recommend providing visitors with a catalog of the exhibition on the day of the inauguration.