Interview: Maria Del Valle Dellacasagrande
Luca Curci talks with Maria Del Valle Dellacasagrande during Venice International Art Fair 2021 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

I am an Italian-Argentinian artist who graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires. I took specialization courses in drawing in Lugano, Switzerland, in sculpture in Pietrasanta and in Sicilian painting in Taormina. My awards: Mention in painting at the Italian Hospital in Buenos Aires; Artistic Merit Trophy in Brazil; Mention in sculpture Association of Sculptors of Buenos Aires. I participated in several art exhibitions, the last one was at the Palazzo of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, after which I decided to move to the city of my ancestors, Troina, in Sicily. In this beautiful and ancient village, I develop my artistic work; my inspiration comes from nature and culture through the knowledge and insights into the history of the Sicilian territory.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Maria Del Valle Dellacasagrande – Art for me is a way of life, it is a path of self-awareness. I see art in everything that surrounds me, I consider that there is no single style or technique.

LC – What are your thoughts while you paint? Do you have any habits or rituals while you work?
MDVD – When I paint I feel that I can change the world, I feel an indescribable vital force, each brushstroke is unique and unrepeatable. I don’t know if there are rituals for artistic work, I think my only habit is to observe the world around me: from observation, we understand the forms and nuances, this is the best study habit.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
MDVD – I’m not looking for inspiration, it comes by itself, from a sound, a color, a texture, or a story.

LC – What is your creative process like?
MDVD – My creative process is born from the contemplation of an object or living being, analyzed the shape, color, posture and intensity. I work by grouping my projects by series, once the contemplation is finished, I move on to the next work.

LC – Which art themes do you pursue? What is your preferred subject, if there is any?
MDVD – My main artistic theme is the representation of the diversity of styles and figurative forms in art, I am interested in expressing a paradigm, a reality outside of ordinary time. Currently, my favorite subject is to represent an original vision of the culture of my territory, manifest in a work all that I have in my being as a Latin American together with Sicilian culture, assemble cultures.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
MDVD – I fully agree with the group’s vision of art and what I like the most is the multiplicity of styles.

LC – Can you explain something about the artwork you have in our exhibition?
MDVD – My work “La Tentazione” was born during the pandemic when one night I had a vision. I saw a majestic white bird perch on the bell tower of the church in the Scalforio neighborhood where I live. I felt fear and amazement, it was the first time I had seen such an imposing nocturnal bird of prey. The next day I asked his name and they told me he was a barbagianni but it was known as temptation. This bird of prey lives in the historic center of Troina, it is a bird that is part of the Parco Dei Nebrodi here in Sicily. I decided to represent it to make the public aware of the importance of protecting and valuing the flora and fauna of our territory, and an effective way to achieve this is by demonstrating its unique beauty. I thank the Comune di Troina and Legambiente Circolo Ancipa for believing in this project.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
MDVD – It’s very professional.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
MDVD – Yes, I would suggest a collaboration with you. The services are very professional and of a high standard.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
MDVD – I consider ITSLIQUID to be a very good opportunity for artists