Interview: Marco Metto
Luca Curci talks with Marco Metto during BARCELONA CONTEMPORARY 2021, 2nd Edition, at Valid World Hall Gallery.

Marco Metto grew up in a family of artists so he approached the world of Art as a child. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari in 1996 as a Set Designer. In those years he combines set design with painting. Then he starts the metaphysical painting of the Major Arcana series, which continues till today. Since 2000 he has dedicated himself to restoration, dealing with canvases, wooden statues, and frescoes, for about 10 years. In 2001 he began the collaboration with the Studio Forme in Rome which leads to deal with important orders such as the High Altar of Sant’Agnese in Agone Church in Navona Square; the restoration of the stained glass windows of the Marcillat in Arezzo Cathedral; the stained glass windows of San Domenico Church in Perugia. This experience allows him to master the realization of stained glass with lead. Later he started a laboratory in Monopoli dealing with restoration and stained glass production. In that period he dedicated himself to the creation of Artistic Collage and carrying on the set designer activity. In recent years till today, he has returned to the production of oil paint, acrylic, and watercolour, drawing landscapes themes and themes about the universe of social media. Nowadays his exhibitions are around Europe.

LUCA CURCI – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
MARCO METTO – I studied as a set designer, my landscapes are set designs through which I can reproduce what affects me of the outside world, that is lights and shadows. I’m influenced by the images of everyday life: as I walk, my gaze is attracted by lights and shadows and by the contrasts of the shadows themselves, so in a moment I see that image and there it comes to the artwork in which I describe moments of personal impressions. I am interested in portraying environments that can be enigmatic, always painting a silence through the use of lights and its contrasts, precisely the shadows. In my landscapes there are never people, they come out in other representations, for example with my pop-art productions of collages that represent the appearance of society. Through the series “Selfies” also comes out a representation of society based on the ephemeral, taken from the bombardment of sexual images as my installation “Daily Flesh”.

LC – What are your thoughts while you paint? Do you have any habits or rituals while you work?
MM – There are multiple thoughts while I paint, I let my mind flow without focusing on specific ideas, I try to concentrate on what I want to represent. I have a few habits while I work: listen to music, drink a shot.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
MM – In the images of everyday life.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artwork? MM – Communicate my message, especially in pop artworks.

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed? MM – Sometimes I’m really satisfied with my completed work, but some others not. It depends on what I expect to receive from the work itself. Anyway, every time is a challenge for me to find new ways and to continue doing art.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the festival or as a part of preexisting works?
MM – It’s part of preexisting works: an Artworks of Pop Art which comes out as a representation of society based on the ephemeral, taken from the bombardment of mediatic and sexual images: “produce, spend, wast, die”.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
MM – I feel this theme is appropriate to art.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
MM – Yes, it’s a really good project

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
MM – Yes, I’d suggest it. It’s a great organization. It was good to collaborate with it, I feel comfortable working with it.