Graziano Ferrari (Italy)
Graziano Ferrari was born in Milan in 1958.
His predisposition to drawing and painting is revealed early, but before it can become passion and become a craft will pass many years.
His inner anxiety pushes him to an experiment without constraints, spanning in every direction leads to the extravagance of the moment.
The materials are the most varied and its horizon widens even in sculpture.
In the early 1980s he began to attend the studies of some painters from whom he received valuable lessons and technical elements that he used to supplement his research.
The first exhibition (1981) introduces him to an unknown world and substantially different from the one idealized in the fantasies of youth; Expectations are disappointed, but in return gets the chance to deal with other artists looking for their own way.
During this period there are some sodalizations, some of which last up until today.
In 1988, in collaboration with two tall painters, he founded a group named Europio, aiming for intentions as an artistic research station (referring to those scientific outposts exploring new worlds). This experience will make a big contribution to the definition of a personal style tending to more and more abstract forms to reach the informal.
In 1994, when the artistic association was dissolved, he resumed the series of exhibitions that led him to be present in many national and international galleries.
Between 2009 and 2010, a growing dissatisfaction, a passion for personal stories, crushes its artistic system.
As long as he starts from the study of pictorial techniques of the past, focusing attention on the divisionism of Seurat and Signac.
From the synergy between the Divisionism and the Informal, a new trend is born that he calls "non-projective divisionism".
In 2014 he was appointed President of the Italian Encyclopaedia of Art, which is still in charge.
Paula Haapalahti (Finland)
I love to observe my surroundings by photographing randomly in nature and urban cities. I would like to show the world through my eyes…
I want so share the feeling, the touch, the smell and the joy of everyday life. As a personal journey I’ll try to learn from my experiences and to see beyond the surface…
I try to connect my inner thoughts visually into my work and to catch the things as they are in the moment. No more, no less..
"There's something significant and beautiful in this world which always surprises me... in particular: kindness, love, compassion and gratitude will never lose their relevance..."
- paula-
Rudolf Lichtenegger (Austria)
Born in 1962 in Kapfenberg
Autodidact
Engaged in painting since 2006
Freelance artist since 2011
Numerous national and international exhibitions, for example in Berlin, London, Miami, Milan, Monte Carlo, New York, Paris, Tuscany, Venice
Publications (excerpt)
OverArt, special issue "Arte e Poesia" - EA Editore, Palermo (Italy)
Edition II, highlights from the studios, LDXArtodrome Gallery Berlin (Germany)
Emozioni Cromatiche, exhibition band, Capalbio / Rome (Italy)
WE CONTEMPORARY – The faces of Contemporary Art, Milano/Kiew/Paris
Awards
International Award 2014 "Europe in Art"
1st Prize International Competition VirArt Gallery New York, May 2015
1st Prize Winter Open Call VirArt Gallery New York, December 2015
Golden Mercury of Art, ArtExpó Gallery Milano / Cesenatico, January 2016
2nd Prize Summer Open Call VirArt Gallery New York, August 2016
Golden Palm of Art, ArtExpó Gallery Milano / Monte Carlo, September 2016
1st Prize Winter Open Call VirArt Gallery New York, December 2016
Philosophy
From the variety of life arises a spontaneous artistic diversity. My artistic works should be indeed points of reflection, but just to be able afterwards to deal easier and with new energy in all the intersections of life.
Mauro Maffina (Italy)
"THE DIGITAL PHOTOS HAPPENING"
by Mauro Maffina
L'incontro con la fotografia digitale di Mauro Maffina è, di primo acchito, un pò sconvolgente.
Le immagini non compaiono come nella verità della fotocamera tradizionale.
Esse vogliono essere una maschera, una negazione della realtà effettuale, un viaggio quasi dell'inconscio il cui tracciato è però ben noto al Maffina. Egli sembra quasi voler giocare con la perspicacia dell'osservatore dopo che gli ha offerto solo una piccola traccia; ci pensi l'incanto superficiale che finisce per perdersi in lambiccate interpretazioni.
Senza la chiave dell'autore, o meglio senza la sua guida è un pò difficile dipanare il mistero di quelle immagini: Maffina confessa che talvolta deve preparare una propria scaletta di lettura, dato che la sua produzione ha assunto un importante ritmo di realizzo.
E quando ci si avventura nel subconscio o nell' inconscio si può anche incappare in qualche vuoto, diciamo, di memoria. Comunque definirei il lavoro di Maffina "di rilievo" anche per il fattto che usa questo strumento digitale con abilità e competenza, senza perdere di vista il fine stesso e che è stato sempre anche quello dei pittori tradizionali: derivato da un mondo di immagini e offrirlo come arricchimento (non solo) visivo: sopprattutto per sviluppare comunque la creatività del nostro spirito, rendendolo sempre più vigile, ricco e attrezzato per muoversi in un mondo che premia sopprattutto i creativi ed i capaci. Però è giusto che tutto possano o debbano trarre frutto dai prodotti della cultura: e arricchirsene di conseguenza.
Brescia, Marzo 2012
Riccardo Musoni
Dana Pandici (Romania)
Born: Timisoara / Romania
Live and work near Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
The palpable real world is not apparent to the mere human perception, it comes to us only as behind a veil deformed by a web composed by our own mental structures.
My works demonstrate my fascination for the human behavior. The wellspring of my images derives from a combination of my own personal memories and my perception about reality.
Take for example the series “Being alive is a privilege – human dignity against cynicism” (series of photography, 2012-2013)
The view of bondage – girl could be in our over sexualised „you-porn „ – society an everyday image of normality.
However, this could not apply for the millions of women touched by the human trafficking. They sense this ignorance of the suffering screamed in the face as pure cynicism.
Could the sight of a frail dead feathery newly hatched chick floating in black, in his total vulnerability, let us cold? The chick is here the epitome of a cold-blood society who gives life to destroy it on the spot in case of no immediate needs. I question myself: who gives us this right?
The photograph „Evolution – Madonna of the Future „ refers to „Cloning“. The bloody animal skull and the beautiful maiden who keeps it on her lap shows a society who wishes to give life on its own purposes, to create fittings and spear parts or mirror their ego clones in the offspring.
The dignity of the bondage – girl in Word or Body is trampled under foot.
I am and always be outraged of the ignominious „modern way „ of women‘s slavery where the dealer is rubbing hands by explaining why one should offer girls on catalogs: the girls want it, they are happy to …. I am not happy to present you this. I am happy if you see it.
Simona Peres (Spain)
Italian Artist
Live and work in Tenerife (Canarias - Spain)
About Me
My name is Simona and I’m an Italian illustrator.
I studied art, graphic design and illustration. I graduated from ISIA in Urbino in 2005.
I’ve been working as a graphic designer, decorator and teacher of illustration and graphic design.
I like to work with children and enjoy organizing creative workshops.
Currently, I live in Tenerife, Spain. I’ve been publishing children’s books with various writers.
I collaborate with art galleries such as Virartgallery.com, La Musa de Adeje, the Circulo de Bellas Artes of Santa Cruz and Ecléctico Café, where I currently exhibit my illustrations.
(For more informations about my skills, please visit my website and download my Curriculum Vitae).
I love to travel… to smell and listen to the sounds of the world. I like to discover new ways… days without hurry and happy people.
I enjoy poetry and irony, to read, to write and to take photos.
When I was a child I spent my time drawing everywhere. And now… too!
Drawing, mixing collage with other techniques (acrylic, watercolor and pencil). Searching and experimenting.
I hear the sound of the graphite blending on the paper… and I want to share my imaginary world with all the children: the young ones and the old ones.
This is my “way”, and if you want to “walk” with me, it would be my pleasure!
Statement
Creativity is intelligence having fun. (A.Einstein)
Other Details
Nicole Philippi (Austria)
(painter, designer, draughtsperson and occasional photographer)
Nicole Philippi is a painter, who allows the unconscious to be the explorer, the developer and the
creative guide.
Her creations happen in the moment and are therefore free from planning and preconceived thoughts; they are
expressive and reflect images and ideas that the viewer associates into. She finds it invigorating and
insightful when people share their impressions and interpretations of her images, which at times assist her
in getting closer to this unconscious inner guide.
For her it is the viewer who brings out the
essence and meaning of her work; another cycle that aids in the completeness of a painting or drawing.
Philippi’s favoured mediums are charcoal, acrylic paint, chalk/soft pastels and at times she applies digital
enhancements. She prefers to draw and paint on strong, recycled paper or canvas. These tools allow her to create
balanced compositions that are partially abstract and partially figurative, injected often with vibrant colours.
Her recognizable signature of distinct, rough and yet expressive outlines injects a notable dynamic in to her works.
Her brushwork is seldom refined but displays the passion and energy of an instinctive mark-maker.
She prefers her digital work to be printed on archival or high quality fine art paper, which frequently receives
post-processing in charcoal and pastels by her own hand, making each of her pieces exclusive.
It is all the above combined with her approach and energy that delivers a uniqueness and variety that would
normally be expected from a professional and taught artist but she is neither.
Nicole’s background is in architectural and mechanical draughting and she holds a 1st class BSc (honours)
degree (UK) and a Diploma in Design and Innovation (UK).
Since mid-2012 Nicole has been dedicating most of her spare time to drawing and painting.
When asked about her influences, she states: Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Expressionism (both abstract and German)
and has admiration for many individual artists from different periods. However, she feels a kind of kinship and
a strong pull towards the German Expressionists … for their convictions and for embracing their “dark side”.
Nicole’s works have been exhibited in Budapest, Hungary at the Ferdinand and Kazi Galleries since March 2014
after entering an online contest. While at the Kazi gallery she won free exhibition space after her work
has been selected as one of the visitors’ favourites.
Nicole has exhibited twice in Vienna, Austria (Dreierlei Finesse and Pre:View – Ausblicke auf 2015) in
2014 with “Verein Kunstschaffen”, an association of artists who support artists. Many of her works
are featured on various online art groups and one of her paintings has been selected by The Best International
Female Artists as the January’s (2015) cover image on one of their online sites.
So far Nicole has been invited to exhibit in the Netherlands in March and Vienna in May 2015.
Nicole Philippi was born in Lindau an island on Lake Constance, Germany but grew up, lived and worked in
Johannesburg, South Africa until 2001. Currently she works in Vienna, lives and paints in the idyllic wine
district of Lower Austria.
“My creations come to life by releasing energy that fuels the images; a cycle of releasing and creating a
buzz ... vibrations, surges and impulses that continuously spark the aliveness.”
N.P.
