Interview: Lakonik
Luca Curci talks with Lakonik during FUTURE LANDSCAPES, the third appointment of BORDERS ART FAIR 2021, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space and at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

For 25 year now, Lakonik has been developing his ideas and thoughts on different themes using a multitude of different techniques and materials. Today, 35 different and unique series have been created, often starting from simple curiosty, or purely by hazard. Developing them over time until finally they become alive in another dimension, often with the idea of finding oneself in a sort of « no man’s land ». An external force guides Lakonik to this conclusion, when everything becomes clear and their existence becomes something that was not imagined at the beginning but ultimately makes sense philosophically and artistically, pushing Lakonik to his limits. Thus giving birth to « Le Lakonien », his own language; «, Autodafé, le Camouflistan, Pipi caca panpan culcul, Les 3 glorieuses, Scies scient, Balade en Utopia, Voyage en Avant Gardie, Visions Orphiques, Lakonik chez les Soviets, L’homme face à, Géométries variables, etc…E pur si muove, which includes an animated film  with 3 different sound tracks, here today, and finally 30 different pictures/tableaus in 70/100cm format.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Lakonik – Art for me is an approach to life and above all to be the best we can. As an artist my journey through life is many things, it’s not just a simple walk in the park but something much more complex; it’s not just a spiritual journey but also a physical, social and intellectual one. I use Art as a means of exposing universal values and humanist ideals using different technologies and materials. For 50 years now I have been working in unknown spheres that have guided me towards my final oeuvres.

LC – What is your background?
L – I’ve often questioned myself and my techniques to understand my limits in both representation and meaning. A simple idea sometimes comes to mind and I will play with the idea, searching for where I might take it, which then naturally comes to its final conclusion. With Lakonik, which is now my 3rd artist name, I have completed 35 different series in 23 years, which may be exposed individually or as part of a collection. I’m aware that this mixture of philosophical and esthetical is not necessarily at first apparent, but for me it’s the conclusion of my research.

LC – What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
L – The history of art is a passion for me, particularly the different movements at the beginning of the 20th century and principally European movements between 1910 and 1925. The period when art wanted to reinvent the world with both objects and ideas, eventually stopped by the rising nationalism sweeping through Europe and guiding it towards another destiny. My art says loud and clearly “ABSOLUTELY, WE MUST NEVER REPEAT THE SAME THING” The Pataphysiciens , the Dadaists , the Fluxus and the different avant-gardists strongly influenced me.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
L – Since a very young age, I’ve always been a traveller both in the geographical sense and the artistic sense, and I continue to do so despite my advancing years. I look, I meet, always with my eyes wide open searching for a detail that could inspire me as if everything is programmed naturally. I want what I’m looking for to come naturally, without forgetting the immense pleasure of creating something.

LC – How is it being an artist nowadays?
L – A simple solitary life, at times with frustrations due to the absence of opportunities to expose. The life of an artist hasn’t really changed hasn’t really changed much since the start of the 20th century because many artists live in poverty, with only a few achieving financial success; people love art but they are not always particularly generous. There are only a few true patrons. Artist need to be given wings.

LC – Has your style changed over the years? In which way?
L – My style is constantly changing as I dislike repetition. It adapts for each series with sometimes different mediums. When I invented an imaginary country, Camouflistan, I created videos, objects, money, a flag, a national anthem, housing, history and photographs of the inhabitants. Everything that constitutes the identity of a country and with an Orwellian vision, as this country shows the future of humanity in 2050. Now, I am trying with modesty to reinvent, with my style and my techniques the first avant-garde European since 2013 through 6 different series: “Balade en Utopia”, “Voyage en Avant-Gardie”, “Vision Orphique”, “L’homme face à…”, “Lakonik chez les Soviets”, “On White Wood (la dernière)”. These series, which successively one after the other, will eventually create an exposition of a significant size. Since 1970, I have photographed in colour different objects to create a series called “way of life” with a pop art style.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this festival?
L – Today, in France, there is an amalgam between culture and art whereas this festival has given the emphasis back to only the oeuvre. As I am often in Italy, the theme and the place were too good to miss.

LC – In which way does the artwork presented in our exhibition connect with the festival’s theme?
L – This video is not a recent one. It is part of a collection of 30 pieces, which show what man has done to our planet earth, and what man has inflicted upon man; it’s not a particularly positive perspective. This video, which was created in 2012 could be easily added too, to show that the evolution of the world is not in a good direction. It would be fun for the viewer to find for themselves what is missing. The final fall is expressive.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID can represent an opportunity for artists?
L – Absolutely! To be able to expose and meet a public in such an interesting space. It is necessary to dream.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
L – As far as I am concerned, everything has been easy, which how I like things to be. My contact with Giulia has been perfect. Thank you.