Interview: Salvatore Piras
Luca Curci talks with Salvatore Piras during the 11th edition of Contemporary Venice, at Palazzo Bembo.

Salvatore Piras is an architect/lighting designer based in Florence, focusing his artistic research on the concept of space and time using the medium as computer graphics, sound and light. Some of his works have been selected and exhibited by institutions such as Paratissima, Tempo Reale, The Artbox Project, Radio Papesse, Moe Contemporary Gallery, FMC Festival di Musica Contemporanea di Cagliari, Bologna Design Week, Venice Contemporanea, Helicotrema Festival.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Salvatore Piras – Art is the translation of an experiential event into a visual form. Observation has always fascinated me, the dichotomy of appearance/reality as well as the cause/effect relationship. All this takes place in physical space (an indefinite and unbounded entity that contains all material things) and time (which organizes the mobile continuity of states in which they identify human and natural events, linking it to an idea of succession or evolution).

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
SP – The background of my study was very important for my theoretical and technical skills. The faculty of Architecture gave me an imprinting oriented on the discipline, a mindset that I do not deny but that I consider very limited. Not like the physical, three-dimensional space I’ve learned to manipulate. Subsequently, my training continued with a specialization in Lighting Design at the IED and a new interest in light art and the phenomenology of light and its perception.

LC – How is your creative process?
SP – It‘s not a linear process. A text, an event or a mental image can inspire me. However, before approaching the mediums, I draw or write a concept. I let it settle and it takes shape.

LC – Do you use art to express something in particular? Is it your medium of expression?
SP – Art is the translation of an experiential event into a visual form. Art is my medium of expression.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this exhibition? How did it inspire you?
SP – It’s a very interesting concept, especially for my preferred keynote: the space and its various declination.

LC – Can you explain something about the artwork you have in our exhibition?
SP – “Linee apparenti di piani differenti” is a mixed-media artwork. Composed of a box containing UV light and different planes in a three-dimensional space created with threads of fabric. The metaphor of different lines of thought intersect each other to create new relational hybrids.

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID Group?
SP – ITSLIQUID Group offers a great opportunity for artists to increase their visibility. It’s a very open platform with great artists and the number of locations is impressive.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
SP – I appreciated being able to show my works in Venice and the professionality of the team. I liked the exhibition and the location is great.

LC – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?
SP – From my personal experience I haven’t noticed any shortcomings.