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What inspired you to create art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
My artistic journey began in childhood. Whenever I saw workers painting large murals on walls, I would stand there and watch for a long time. The magical effect of paint spreading across the surface and the gradual formation of lines into shapes deeply fascinated me. From that moment, I fell in love with painting and began learning it systematically. Depicting what I see and imagine onto the canvas, turning it into tangible works of reality, has become my lifelong pursuit.
What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far?
I graduated from the China Academy of Art (CAA).
I often use watercolor gradients and layering techniques to capture the fluidity of light and shadow. Through tools like palette knives and spraying, I simulate the textures and dynamic changes found in nature. Additionally, I incorporate mixed media to give my paintings a tactile sense of depth.
I aim to break the boundaries between reality and imagination, transforming observed changes in light and shadow, spatial structures, or emotional atmospheres into abstract forms full of tension and vitality.
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
- The Interweaving of Dreams and Reality
My work excels at blending dreams and reality, presenting a visual experience that feels both familiar and unfamiliar through abstract forms. This approach evokes introspection and emotional resonance in viewers, filling each piece with poetry and imaginative space.
- A Balance of Emotion and Form
I focus on creating visual impact by combining delicate emotional expression with bold structural composition. Gentle colors and flowing lines are often infused with tension and strength, achieving emotional depth while breaking free from traditional constraints, resulting in a harmonious sense of contradiction.
- Multifaceted Material Expression
I specialize in using diverse materials and textural variations to provide a dual sensory experience of touch and vision. By blending water-based paints, metal foil, pigments, and 3D pens, my work reveals a unique interplay of light, shadow, and depth.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspirations are diverse, drawing from natural landscapes, details of everyday life, dreams, travel experiences, and emotional interactions with others.
- Instant Perception and Image Reconstruction
My creations often stem from fleeting visual stimuli in everyday life. Through my sharp sensitivity, I capture these transient moments, deconstruct and reassemble them into new abstract or semi-abstract compositions. This process not only refines reality but also recreates my inner emotional responses.
- Fusion of Existing Images and Reality
In my work, I often create a dialogue between existing images and visual elements from reality. This interaction generates entirely new artistic expressions, breaking the boundaries of time and space. The resulting works integrate memories of the past with the authenticity of the present.
- Multisensory Triggers from Travel
Travel is a vital source of inspiration for me. Every step I take, the sounds I hear, the scenes I see, and the subtle tactile sensations I experience combine in my mind to form unique imagery. These sensory experiences and memories merge to infuse my works with greater depth and storytelling.
- Dream-Inspired Creativity
Inspiration often arises from a semi-conscious, light sleep state where the conscious and subconscious intertwine. During these moments, blurred memories and emotions are amplified and transformed into abstract expressions in my artwork, adding a touch of fantasy and unpredictability to my creations.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
My artistic philosophy is a continuous journey of exploration and experimentation, much like ancient alchemists who combined unknown inspirations with diverse techniques to refine new visual experiences.
Through my work, I aim to evoke resonance in the audience, inspiring them to rethink the world and their own selves. In this process, I strive not only for visually striking effects but also to offer viewers a unique journey of perceiving beauty and exploring the unknown.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DB-zrmWz8pT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?
My creative process leans towards improvisation, serving as an immediate dialogue with inspiration and emotions. I enjoy maintaining an open mindset during creation, allowing the artwork to flow naturally with my inner feelings and the tools in my hands. Without excessive preplanning, each stroke and choice of material carries a sense of exploration. I believe this improvisational approach captures the most authentic and intuitive emotional states, infusing my work with an unpredictable vitality that gives the composition a unique sense of liveliness and freedom.
However, completing a piece sometimes requires a certain level of rational analysis and judgment to balance emotion and structure.
A random moment or image often sparks my inspiration, leading me deeper into exploration and guiding my work in new directions.
At the same time, unexpected “mistakes” or accidents during the creative process often become the unique highlights of my work. These imperfections imbue the piece with greater vitality and distinctiveness.
Do you use a particular work technique? if so, can you explain it?
First, I excel at using watercolor gradients and layering techniques to capture subtle changes in light and shadow as well as to create depth in my compositions. This approach allows me to craft a visual atmosphere that is both gentle and full of tension.
Second, I enjoy enriching the texture of my work through mixed media, combining materials such as metal foil, metallic pigments, 3D pens, and collage with traditional painting techniques. These materials interact with light to produce rich reflective effects, adding a sense of dynamism and spatiality to the artwork.
Additionally, I often employ an improvisational “random generation” technique, such as splattering paint or using palette knives to create textures. This element of unpredictability sometimes results in unexpected visual effects, and these “accidents” often become defining features of the work and integral parts of its emotional expression.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDjGCdKRzRb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
Yes, this is primarily reflected in my exploration of spontaneity, sensory experiences, and narrative.
Through improvisational creation and random generation techniques, I fill my work with unexpected details, and this unpredictability imbues the pieces with a unique vitality. Additionally, I emphasize multisensory experiences, incorporating tactile elements, light and shadow, and a sense of dynamism into the compositions. By blurring the boundaries between abstraction and reality, I tell open-ended stories through my work, combining emotion and memory to spark the viewer’s imagination and reflection. This approach gives my creations distinctive individuality and depth in both form and content.
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why ?
Yes, I specialize in creating with watercolor and mixed media. The transparency and fluidity of watercolor allow me to capture subtle changes in light and shadow, creating a soft and richly layered atmosphere.
Where do you produce your works? At home, in a shared workshop or in your own workshop? And in this space, how do you organize your creative work?
I have my own studio, which feels like a laboratory filled with various materials and tools. I organize it into different zones based on the stages of creation: a sketching area, a materials preparation area, a creative workspace, and a storage area for finished pieces. This space serves as my “playground” for exploration and creation.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
Yes, I often travel and have participated in various fairs and exhibitions. Traveling exposes me to different cultures and landscapes, providing inspiration for my creations. Meanwhile, fairs and exhibitions allow me to connect directly with audiences and collectors, receiving valuable .
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBnEER7TKWZ/?tm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
In the future, I hope to continue exploring new forms of artistic expression while participating in more international exhibitions. I also aspire to collaborate with creators from different fields, exploring the possibilities of cross-disciplinary creations.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
My latest artistic creations revolve around the intertwining of emotion and nature, expressed through abstract and semi-abstract forms that merge inner feelings with external observations.
My recent work is inspired by memories of mountain landscapes from my trip to Georgia.
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
My most significant exhibition experience was my solo art exhibition, Norhor, held in Hangzhou, with the theme “Imagination Materialized.”
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why ?
If I could recreate a famous artwork from art history, I would choose Sterling Ruby’s TURBINE. TYGER TYGER BURNING BRIGHT., 2024. This piece, with its bold color contrasts, richly layered textures, and collage-like composition, showcases the infinite possibilities of abstract art while delivering powerful visual impact and emotional expression.
I would choose this work because it presents a strong sense of dynamism and energy flow in its form, while also conveying profound reflections on nature and human emotions. The intense clash of red, blue, and gold in the composition resembles the merging of flames and celestial bodies, offering viewers a visual experience that feels both familiar and strange. The use of collage techniques and diverse materials enhances the narrative depth and complexity of the piece.
Moreover, the artwork’s title references William Blake’s poem The Tyger, adding literary and philosophical layers to the piece. It explores the tension between the forces of nature and human civilization, symbolizing both ion and creativity, as well as the potential for destruction and introspection.
Through such a work, I would aim to create art that speaks directly to the audience’s innermost emotions, delivering both sensory impact and stimulating deep contemplation of life and existence. This is precisely the artistic goal I strive to achieve.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCS5rgdP95B/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
If you could invite one famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?
If I could invite one artist to dinner, I would choose Sterling Ruby. His works captivate me with their materials, forms, and social insights, and I would love the opportunity to discuss his creative philosophy and process.
That evening, I would suggest starting with a discussion of his works, such as TURBINE. TYGER TYGER BURNING BRIGHT., 2024. I’d like to learn how he uses materials and composition to convey emotions and address social issues, as well as his perspective on the future of art. I would also share my own creative ideas and discuss the significance of abstract art in contemporary contexts.
If possible, I’d love to collaborate on an impromptu creation after dinner, blending his multimedia techniques with my artistic style. This would make the evening not just a conversation, but also a practice of creation and an inspiring collision of ideas.
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli 
