An Otherworldly Journey - The Art of Paolo Guido

An Otherworldly Journey - The Art of Paolo Guido

Even. (Triptych left side) 50 x 70cm, ed. of 2. Digital illustration on Hahnem
ule. Available at Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome.

Paolo, what means to you showing your work alongside those of Ray Caesar and Natalie Shau?

Alexandra Mazzantihas the merit of this combination: she is theexhibition designer and owner of Dorothy Circus Gallery. It all happened very quickly and i was very glad to accept the offer (simply saying 'yes').

Even. (Triptych central part)
50 x 70cm, ed. of 2. Digital illustration on Hahnemule. Available at
Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome.

What's your cultural background?

I didn't attend Art schools or academies and i don't make a boast on this. Nevertheless, It was a deeply felt choice that has allowed me to have a less formal access to painting. It's obvious saying that Italy is a country rich in historical tradition and creativeness: even a child can feel it... just breathing the air of this wonderful land. But the word 'History' often implies that the 'Tradition' is subjected to a 'Transition' and sometimes to a 'Treason'. At the same time, i took away from the 'Culture', another concept that can be easily exploited. In the Bel Paese, well-educated people feed on the big names of culture, can gobble and manipulate their thoughts, without having any direct experience of them.

I prefer intelligence, cleverness and understanding capability! So, i prefer the stage of intuition: people can see marvellous things, can catch even their strength and their history, only looking each other in the eyes.

Even. (Triptych right side) 50 x 70cm, ed. of 2. Digital illustration on
Hahnemule. Available at Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome.



Triptych.

Your works have a decidedly Renaissance imprint although they are the result of a digital experience. What comes out from this unusual "asynchrony" between techniques and characters?

The italian verb 'rinascere' (i.e. 'reborn', from which the term 'Renaissance') is a wonderful word! It sounds good to me! In the Renaissance the foundations for a recovery of classical cultural values were laid, but then they also suffered an evolution (in the 'Mannerism'). I think that in the early period, painting technique were more... hybrid than we can imagine. To be clear, many pictures that are catalogued ad oil paintings, were probably made with a mixture of egg tempera, oil, resin and other mediums whose recipes are very difficult to reconstruct. Digital painting give a great chance of experimentation, if you don't close it in a strict category. I have approached it especially for reason of space, i don't consider myself a digital artist. 'Viator' was born as a digital work, with marked graphic characteristics, then developed in traditional painting and sculpture. 'Viator' is important because it contains the last three steps of a rebirth. From this experience, i have realized that style and technique are sides of the same coin, whose thickness and weight you can value after a long time.

Viator. 35 x 70cm. ed. of 50.
Digital illustration on Hahnemule.Available at Dorothy Circus
Gallery, Rome.

Why are you "obsessed" by childhood? (the questions from one of our followers on facebook).

I never told this! I feel an attraction instead for what is small and for what is big. Abuse of power usually takes place at the exposure of the small ones. If considered in wildlife, it's a natural process, but not in civil society. In any case, this situation produces creativeness. At the moment, i think that Italy passes through a period of so intense degeneration that new interesting development can be introduced.

How long does it take to create an artwork? (on average).

If I should consider only the time factor, probably I can't make an entire work. Certainly, there are deadlines, too!

The triptych 'Even' - made expressly for the exhibition "Would you be my miracle?" - was carried out in a few weeks. I didn't try to hide problems, so time can be perceived as a symbolic presence in the picture.

But I also chose that it couldn't interfere too much: the magic words were "make haste slowly".