Interview: DeusMou
Luca Curci talks with DeusMou during the 18th edition of VENICE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2023, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

Lured to Italy for its delicious food and wine, rather more favourable climate and rich history, after a few years I found a beautiful house in the countryside which gave me the space and opportunity, at last, to be creative with wood. Self-taught, for me, being a wood artist is creative expression, imagination and feeling finding their substance and form. It is catharsis, emotion, healing, connection and also play. It’s a collaboration with this majestic element that lives and breathes: it wants to be heard, considered, to be part of the process. This, for me, is where the true beauty lies in sculpting: the meeting of my artistic intention with the wood’s desire. The outcome is the culmination of this flow, of my ability to remain malleable and open to the unforeseen.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
DeusMou – It’s expression, it’s finding what you feel conveyed in a perfect way by the artist. It’s the appreciation of the level of skill that’s needed to create the piece. It’s wonder at the artist’s creative vision. For my art is catharsis, connection and the meeting of my artistic intention and the wood’s desire.

LC- What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
DM – I’m self-taught but trees and woodcraft have always accompanied me through my life. My father was a carpenter and my favourite subject at school was woodwork. For 12 years I worked backstage in the theatre in London and this gave me the chance to occasionally build something practical and to get my hands on wood. Now that I found a country house in the hills I finally have the possibility to let my creative juices flow through wood.

LC – What issues do you intend to deal with in the future?
DM – I would like to carry on with the theme of catharsis and the transmission of emotions, hoping to strike a chord in the viewer, stirring in their energy, feelings and thought.

LC – Is there an unrealised or unrealisable project, even a crazy one, that you would like to work on?
DM – Being in my early years as an artist, I still have much experience to gain. This is also reflected in my workshop and the tools to which I have access, so in the future, I want to work big, and embark on large-scale projects. I’d also like to work with both metal and stone in combination with wood.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
DM – It’s a lot of fun and extremely satisfying when I produce a piece, but, as many artists will testify, it’s difficult finding the time to do what I love while working in my full-time job. It’s hard to find the right way to show your art and let people get to know you. Now there are lots of different channels, real and virtual and it’s not easy to understand what the right choice is.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition?
DM – I really like your vision and the fact that, despite working a lot online, you organize real events, so people can see art live. The theme of the exhibition is deep and current, more than ever we need to find a connection with nature and what is around us. In a society that goes in the opposite direction, I think it’s the only way to find ourselves.

LC – In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the exhibition’s theme?
DM – I presented three works, that all represent how we interact with nature around us. The Tide is the flow, the energy that we all have when we interact with the landscape; in Calm Confusion I wanted to represent the idea of how we carry on in our lives also if the world is changing around us; in The Matrix you can see the obstacles we tackle daily, however, we carry on in the face of adversity.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
DM – I think it’s a great opportunity for an artist. Exhibitions can give visibility and the chance to meet artists and art lovers. At the same time, the social networks allow you to reach many more people. Furthermore, other services like consultations and articles really offer 360-degree assistance and promotion.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
DM – I took part in the opening event and I really enjoyed it! The place is wonderful, the pieces were perfectly exhibited and also if there were a lot of different styles the atmosphere was coherent and cohesive. I loved the possibility of having a chat with international artists too.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
DM – I really enjoyed it, that’s why I’ve decided to go on with the International Fair in Venice and to take part in the Rome International Art Fair as well!