Interview: Otilia Iliescu
Luca Curci talks with Otilia Iliescu during ROME INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2022 – 3rd Edition, held at Medina Art Gallery.

I am a Romanian artist from Iași, Moldova region. My artworks revolve around political or social issues and I usually work together with psychologists, therapists and people from the law and politics fields to complete my projects. I started as a painter and redirected myself towards performances, sound design and installations. So far, I exhibited in New York, Barcelona, Venice, Rome and my hometown.

Luca Curci – What are you currently working on?
Iliescu Otilia – I am working on expanding my field and doing a second university with a bachelor’s in management. Also, I am trying to expand my knowledge in psychology, and politics and experiment with different perspectives on art. But at this moment, I am researching for a project based on the geo-political factors that influence the element of shock in Contemporary Art.

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
OI – I think I experimented a lot. I didn’t know what I was doing most of the time. I still question what I think I know so far. For me, it worked like a gut feeling. You just feel when to start and what to do.

LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?
OI – I try to focus on the idea of introspection, although I sometimes end up in political subjects. It really depends on how you view and feel the artwork.

LC – How do you choose your subjects? Is it a reasoned or an instinctive process?
OI – Instinctive at the beginning for sure. Later on, I try to get in touch with people who specialized in what I am using as a base concept for my artwork and they usually shape my reasoning.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
OI – When people share experiences and perspectives, they realize we are not as unique as we like to think. I enjoy those conversations. They provide good inspiration every time.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition?
OI – I agree that we as humans are a continuously changing system and we can be influenced by so many factors in the contemporary world. The analysis of its relationship with other bodies and spaces is for sure a subject of relevance.

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this event? How is it connected to the theme of the entire exhibition?
OI – I aimed to create space and factors of influence through sound. I think everyone feels it differently. For me, it is a way to underline what we are shaped into by the environment we depend on.

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP?
OI – It is indeed remarkable to host over two hundred exhibitions worldwide. I always enjoyed collaborating with you.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
OI – I check it out often and I recommend it to others as well. I think the exhibitions and the articles available on the platform constitute a great way to connect with the art world.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
OI – Of course. The attitude is what I always appreciated the most. You always had the patience to answer all my questions and help me navigate through the organization process.