Interview: Letterio Scopelliti
Luca Curci talks with Letterio Scopelliti during CONSCIOUSNESS, second appointment of ANIMA MUNDI 2024, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

Letterio Scopelliti was born in Sicily but soon moved to Florence where he still lives. He taught high school history and philosophy for thirty years and published philosophical and literary essays, novels, plays and poetry collections. He is an avid chess player and has participated in numerous tournaments, winning the Third National Team. He has always dedicated himself to photography. In 2007 he curated a solo exhibition at the Caffè Principe in Florence. In 2013 he participated in the initiative of the CCC Strozzina An idea of beauty. He was part of the jury of the Photographic Prize Opera prima and was included in the volume Fotografi in Toscana 2014 and 2019, Toscana cultura editore. In 2023 he participated in a group exhibition in Rome at the Margutta Gallery, in Florence at the Roccart Gallery at the group exhibition Lux, at the group exhibition Self-portrait at the On Art Gallery, a video exhibition at Palazzo Panciatichi in a video exhibition in Catania and Barletta, a video exhibition in Sanremo at the Ariston Theatre and the group exhibition Amore at On Art Gallery in Florence. In 2024 he participated in the Artist of the Year 2024 Trophy in Cesenatico on 6 January and was included with two photos in the catalog of the same award. On 25 January he participated in the group show On line COLORS International Exhibition curated by Barbagelata Foundation in Barcelona. On April 6, he will participate in the GIOTTO AWARD in Florence with a group exhibition in video exhibition. On April 7 he will participate in a video exhibition in NEW YORK. In his photos he favours the harmony of composition, the chromatic sense and the infinite variations of nature. He tries to grasp the beauty of the landscapes, and the liveliness of city life but often portrays details that strike him. The close-ups and masks have always fascinated him because they reveal the essence of who is portrayed. His works often dwell on sea or mountain landscapes and attempt to capture particular moments or unusual scenarios. His love of film and art also influenced his style.

Luca Curci – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?Letterio Scopelliti – My works are influenced by the works of the major artists of painting and photography and by the vision of the most important cinematographic works. Furthermore, my philosophical training as a philosophy teacher at high schools also influences my thematic and aesthetic choices. The experiences that have most influenced my work are those of watching contemporary art exhibitions both in the fields of painting and photography.

LC – Which subject are you working on?
LS – The project I’m working on concerns the abstract photography I’ve recently been approaching and involves the creation of chromatic variations with the dominant basic colours.

LC – Is there an unrealised or unrealisable project, even a crazy one, that you would like to work on? What are the three hashtags essential to define your poetics that you could not give up?
LS – It’s not an unrealizable project because I don’t just love designing but I always prefer to complete the jobs I have in mind. The project will be finished when the result is consistent with the idea I have and has achieved aesthetic value. The three adjectives that define my poetics are Dionysian, vitality and beauty.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
LS – The sources are multiple. First of all, nature in its infinite variations such as the sky, the clouds, the sea and the mountains. Then I also let myself be inspired by fashion which offers a varied range of models and shapes. Finally, the works of other artists can also provide me with interesting ideas that I try to translate into original and new works. I also really love black and white, portraits and Still of Life.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition?
LS – I am completely in tune with the Itsliquid group’s vision of art because it gives space to varied approaches and is characterized by high-level aesthetic choices. As for the proposed theme, it was in perfect harmony with my philosophical training and was very stimulating for me.

LC – In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the exhibitions theme?
LS – My works aim to represent, through the choice of colours, the emotional flows of consciousness and the connection between the human mind and the universe. In particular, they want to be the representation of the vital force and the Dionysian that connects man to totality and makes him divine. As pantheistic philosophers say, the divine can be seen in every aspect of nature and even within us. This is the force that drives all our behaviour from birth to death and perhaps even beyond.

LC – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?
LS – I really appreciated your services, the methods of approach, the setting up of the exhibition, the courtesy and friendliness of the staff and the management of the vernissage enriched by the dance performance. I would suggest inserting a short description of the authors next to the works.

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP?
LS – As far as Itsliquid group is concerned, I think it is very valid with a very long-term experience and capable of offering high-quality services and works. Even the exhibition catalogues are particularly appreciable because they know how to enhance the works presented and have a strong aesthetic value.