Interview: Gianfranco Mottola
Luca Curci talks with Gianfranco Mottola during VENICE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2020 and FRAGMENTED IDENTITIES, second appointment of BORDERS Art Fair 2020 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

I was born in Sanremo in the province of Imperia, the 15th of September, 1961 but in 1964 my family decided to move to Rome. I graduated from the Art School “Silvio D’amico”, master of art in design and photography in 1979. My professional path is shaped after years of work experience in the advertising and fashion field where I made the most of my knowledge of design and photography, realizing advertising campaigns for fashion companies. Later in the years I decided to put my art into action and create my own brand of which I personally follow every detail of the design, the craft and the know-how. I like to experiment new multimedia languages contaminating photography with digital art: cinema remains one of my biggest inspirations, Marco Ferreri and Federico Fellini are the two masters from whom I gained the ability of understanding the woman-verse, a personal path that for me will always be on the move. I would define myself as a curios designer, visionary, always against what is mainstream: avant-garde and always beyond the artistic trends of the moment.

Luca Curci – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
Gianfranco Mottola – Cinema is my source of inspiration, my teachers are Marco Ferreri and Federico Fellini.

LC – Which subject are you working on?
GM – At the moment I am working on a new project against infibulation.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
GM – Certainly the initial phase of the project.

LC – Do visitors’ suggestions enrich yourself and your art?
GM – Of course, requests and suggestions are a way to improve.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
GM – Certainly, in part the work experiences that I had have changed my style, but most of all it has been the fact of having acquired a new vision over time.

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?
GM – My project deals with desires and aspirations through dreams and as everyone knows dreams have no boundaries.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
GM – I talked with the director, Luca Curci, and I found many synergies about this projects. As far as the theme is concerned, I believe that we must all work together in this sphere to ensure that there are no more material and immaterial boundaries.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
GM – I found a young and dynamic environment, Luca Curci and his collaborators are very professional. I also really liked the locations. In fact, I believe that only by working can we always improve.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
GM – Of course, as I said it is only by collaborating and opening up to new experiences that we all improve together.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
GM – Very attractive, both in the spaces and in the graphics. If I can give my advice I would also make a section in Italian for me and the other people who don’t know very well the English version… obviously, I’m joking!