Interview: Christine Saldaña
Luca Curci talks with Christine Saldaña during VISIONS, third appointment of ANIMA MUNDI 2022, at Palazzo Bembo – Venice Grand Canal.

Christine Saldaña is a self-taught artist living in New York City. Inspired by her Dominican heritage, she utilizes bright colors and detailed textures within her practice to express the culture’s vibrant spirit. Her work takes an imaginative perspective on day-to-day life and its impact on self-concept and social intimacy. She graduated with a Creative Writing degree and applies poetry and visual language when first approaching her art. Recently, she exhibited at The Holy Art Gallery in London and will soon be showing more work in Rome.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Christine Saldaña – With so many social media platforms and information outlets saturating our lives, it is natural to become distracted by technology and less in touch with the world around us. Art encourages me to be here and now. When creating, I am able to practice mindfulness and gratitude for the present moment.

LC – What are you currently working on?
CS – Right now I am working on paper-cut collages that present seemingly small moments in my life which left a great impact. For example, ‘Cat By Her Window’ was inspired by a busy morning filled with work and chaos. I was running around the apartment like a headless chicken! Suddenly, I caught glimpse of my cat peacefully sleeping by her favorite window. I observed her bathing in the morning sun; her chest rising up and down. The rhythm of my breath began to follow hers and my mind was able to quiet all the loud thoughts. This reminded me that during overwhelming feelings of stress or anxiety, it is so important to stop and breathe.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
CS – I can’t say I ever really had a style. I like changing things up. I experiment often to keep my art feeling new and personal.  Recently, I’ve been working a lot with paper collages as I find this technique delivers a sense of rawness and complexity.

LC – Which art themes do you pursue? What is your preferred subject, if there is any?
CS – I am deeply inspired by day-to-day life. I enjoy seeking the unnoticed details of my life and giving them a voice in my art. This allows me to honor everything that should be celebrated, not only the milestones. The small moments frame my existence as much as the big moments do.

LC – How do you choose your subjects? Is it a reasoned or an instinctive process?
CS – I do not intentionally choose my subject. instead, my subjects naturally present themselves to me and it is up to me to take hold and capture them in my art.

LC – In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the exhibition’s theme?
CS – The exhibition “Anima Mundi – Visions” aims to discover hidden relationships between the body and soul; mankind and the natural elements. My pieces “Watching the Beautiful Flowers You Gave Me Die” and “Blessed Sacrament” examines the idea that living souls exist everywhere, inside us and the things we touch.

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition?
CS – Both works are conceptual pieces that elevate an everyday item to becoming the protagonist of the show. Unrealistic scales and proportions were used to evoke the viewer’s imagination. What may seem like random placements of symbols throughout the frame are arranged there with careful execution. They are meant to present a sense of motion and arouse the viewer’s own soul.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
CS – Itsliquid is successful in gathering so many diverse artists from around the world with all different backgrounds. ItsLiquid provides great opportunities for artists to showcase their work and meet each other.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
CS – Though I was physically unable to attend the exhibit, the ITSLIQUID Group was always responsive to my communications which put me at ease.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
CS – Yes, I was impressed by the team’s ability to organize so many international participants and their art within a space. I felt lucky when I received the email that ItsLiquid had accepted me for Visions.