Martina Perissinotto
mixed-media collage: acrylic, watercolour, ink, sequins, papers
82cm x 115cm
Title Pa a strada dove che no se vol ndar se core
Down the path you don't want to take, you'll end up running.
In an interview with Elena Crippa for HENI Talks, Paula Rego said that “pictures allow you to feel forbidden things”. Rego depicts women as physically and mentally strong, defiant, and independent. Her magical realism is accessible to the audience, yet there is always the palpable tension of things happening under the surface. This work reflects my artistic journey from the pressure of societal and familial expectations to fully embrace my true self.
Each piece of the collage figure represents a ‘eureka’ moment, key encounter, or missed opportunity in my journey to re-discovering my true self. The body is depicted as strong and sturdy, telling a story of feelings aloud. I wanted the use of bright colours and bold lines to convey my boisterous personality and overwhelm the viewer, whilst drawing them into the work via the highly detailed and symbolic individual pieces. The prints are playful and direct with my feelings and communication. The collaged head is a nod to Shepard Fairey’s stencilled portrait of President Obama, whilst the ‘buried mask’ on the chest echoes the anxiety-pervaded work of Yayoi Kusama.
I have been able to move away from realistic representations of subjects to a place where I feel comfortable interpreting what I see according to my feelings and state of mind.
“Undertaking OFCAD has taken me out of my comfort zone and set me on a well-defined path to developing my artistic voice. I was able to become more daring, experimental, and playful. It has allowed me to experiment, unleash my inner child and create without worry. I hope I can continue my art journey with this same attitude.”