Interview: Paola Nicotra
Luca Curci talks with Paola Nicotra during BARCELONA CONTEMPORARY, 3rd Edition, at Valid World Hall Gallery.

“Born in Sicily, Italy, I studied and worked with communication and foreign languages. I am a self-taught artist. I like to explore the possibilities offered by different materials such as raw jute used without primer, or wood waste, and anti-rust paint. My works are composed of several materials such as clay, putty, sand, and anything that can create thickness. I want thickness because I think the unconscious has to express itself on a higher and thicker level than the simple two-dimensional canvas. I want my paintings to be touched, explored, and known not only with the eyes but also with the touch so that you can come into contact with the interior elements that are there.”

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Paola Nicotra – For me, art is a parallel world. I like to explore the possibilities offered by different materials such as raw jute used without primer, or wood waste, and anti-rust paint. My works are composed of several materials such as clay, putty, sand, and anything that can create thickness. I want thickness because I think the unconscious has to express itself on a higher and thicker level than the simple two-dimensional canvas. I want my paintings to be touched, explored, and known not only with the eyes but also with the touch so that you can come into contact with the interior elements that are there. The painting becomes a kind of meeting point between the exterior and interior dimensions, the greater the urgency of the expression, the greater the thickness.

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
PN – I started painting at the age of 16, as I found by chance some rustproof paint cans and plywood panels in my father’s warehouse, so I never stopped and I continued exploring and testing new materials and techniques. Just now I’m testing and using row jute, and discovering the elegance and strongness of this material used without any imprinting.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
PN – I find it everywhere, it can be a leaf, or the shade of a tree trunk, or a stone, or an intuition, an emotion. Pollock used to say that if you paint the unconscious the shapes have to come out, and this is what I do.

LC – Which art themes do you pursue? What is your preferred subject, if there is any?
PN – My subject are all abstract, you can see some shapes if your mind project it

LC – Do you use art to express something in particular? Is it your medium of expression?
PN – Like any artist, in my works, I express a large part of myself, in addition to the exploration of materials and dimensions. To do this, the process is now known to me: when I feel that some energy is pressing inside me, I know that a painting is maturing, then I wait a few days until I feel it is ready to come out.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
PN – Yes, I think it’s beautiful when different artists from all over the world are united in one space to share their artworks and visions. I’m so happy to be a part of this art fair.

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition?
PN – I presented 3 works, Flow9, Sinfonia, and Slippery when wet, they all have some parts in relief. The relief, being able to touch and not just see the work, is essential to complete the process of expression. The clay parts give weight, volume, and thickness to the canvas, they are made to be touched. They make the artwork rich in texture, fragile and heavy at the same time, it is true, but so is the human soul.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
PN – I think it’s very well organized, from the initial contact to the expedition, the artist is always supported by the staff.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
PN – Certainly. It is an honor to exhibit in a city like Barcelona.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
PN – Yes, and I would recommend it to others.