Interview: Desire De Lacy
Luca Curci talks with Desire De Lacy during the 10th Edition of CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2022, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

Desire Rhea De Lacy is a South African-born artist. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2017 and has participated in various Exhibitions such as the Sasol new signatures in South Africa and The M.A.D.S “Yellow” exhibition. She is currently developing her body of work abroad in the Netherlands. Her work focuses on themes of trauma as a collective, individual, and personal experience. Drawing from her upbringing in Post-apartheid South Africa, De Lacy grapples with subtle emotional nuances that present itself in her alien life abroad.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Desire De Lacy – For me, art is the daily practice of showing up and being vulnerable to one’s emotions. It can help us express things that are often hard to verbalize, it can create opportunities for dialogical exchange which in turn can shape and form an individual or group’s perspective in life. Art is a catalyst for change and is fundamental in our society.
 
LC – What are you currently working on?
DDL – I am currently deconstructing my childhood experiences and how my upbringing affects my current being. I am reflecting on how these experiences shape a person’s identity positively and negatively. I am experimenting with this through different mediums such as sculpture, painting, photography, and video.

LC – How is your creative process?
DDL – Inspiration will find you when you are creating. Therefore, I always try to create. My art process is intuitive but there is always research that reflects in the art process. I often read and journal and as I create it reflects within my art practice.
 
LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?
DDL – Yes, they are. Although it varies it often stems from identity, experiences and trauma.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
DDL – It’s scary and exhilarating at the same time. There are so many different mediums and art concepts developing in the art world. Through social media and other online platforms, artists are always connected to what’s happening, as artist, we can find almost anything online. We have a lot more access to research and learning materials.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this exhibition? How did it inspire you?
DDL – It’s great, the dialogical exchange that happened between artist, curators and visitors was inspiring. Talking about my artwork challenged me to take my sculptural hands that was on exhibition further. The exhibition was a great meeting point for like-minded people. On top of that to exhibit in Venice itself and seeing both the beautiful surroundings was awe-inspiring.

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this event? How is it connected to the theme of the entire exhibition?
DDL – Your emotions are worthy and linked to who you are, you can decide how they will define you, but you cannot subtract yourself from your emotions. And in the same sense, you cannot subtract yourself from your art or that which you create. It is a part of your identity and as identity is a theme within this exhibition it connected well.
 
LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
DDL – Yes, ITSLIQUID provides artist opportunities for artist to exhibit and interact with other artists internationally. If you go to the gallery openings it creates opportunities for networking and speaking to like-minded people. This can evolve into new ideas and new collaborations.