L'orMa,
Riva presso Chieri
September 2013
If you asked me to speak about "Art", I think I woud definitely connect my speech to the book "Scarsdale diet" by Hermann Tarnower and Samm Sinclair Baker in particular for two reasons: on the one hand it is an "unconventional" text to use as a comparison with art and culture, and the intrinsic characteristic of all art is that it is in itself unconventional; on the other hand it speaks about something "impossible" made "possible", that in some way is what I think art does.
It is funny, because it speaks in such a careless way about sacrifices, renunciantions, patience and discipline; I'm very familiar with this things because at the age of 15, when I was studying at the art school, I was overweight and in a year I have lost 33 Kilograms; That's why I said "the impossible made possible". For a overweight person (as for an addict or simply for a smoker) it is very difficult to see himself different, this for many reasons;
In fact, in spite of appearance, this book speaks about something really strong: you have to be ready to change yourself, to shape your mind and your body, outside and inside, to become someone else remaining yourself; and that's what I think about being an artist;
"you will learn to eat better and fewer, and you will accustom new liking.
You could be unaware, but at the end it's not important you to be conscious while following Scarsdale, but innate facts are transforming your habits (...)"
" A patient: Now that I have stabilized my weight at 75 kg, it's difficult for me to believe I've been a "fat man" (100kg). After I took out from my body that terrible fat in excess I became slim, now I breathe better, I have regenerated my energy and my resistance."
It makes me think to art as a journey, a long maybe infinite journey, that the artist does to reach something; this has inside a convulsive component, as in a bulimic person, who always tries to become more and more slim, until he dies!
So, what is an artist? if you asked me how I would define myself I think I'd answer a "normal person who follows art". I don't believe that every great artist must be a supernatural person; sometimes it happens but a great artist can only be a great artist. I'm following art just because I've always done it, since I was a child; I always created small sculptures, drawings, I was not so interested in other games. Growing up none of this stopped and someone suggested me that it was the time to study art to grow, and I did. In addition I consider Art as a (particular) work, with many rules and obligated steps.
I'm not sure that artist's life is better than other lives, maybe it would be better to stop working at 19.30, to leave the office, feed the cat, see a stupid but funny movie and go to sleep, but as I just said, what I do is different and it's not clear why.
Another interesting concept inside the book is "to create all with nothing"; This is another point at issue that an artist has to learn to "create art" (in particular for young artists without many resources);
Actually after 30 days (for example) of diet you begin to desire "great dishes"; you have to learn to create them without fats, carbohydrate, sugar, etc.; here is a long chapter dedicated to this concept and I learnt it is possible, in cooking and, when I worked as an artist assistant, in making art.
"It's stupid to think that people is ready to change habits. (...)
Studying the diet I have been stimulated by the necessity to create foods that had to be tasty, coloured (the aspect is important) and satisfactory, although without calories.
(...) It couldn't be any deficiency of vitamins and minerals in two weeks of diet, however the offered recipes have everything the body needs."
The last interesting idea, connected with the realization of this book, is situated at its beginning: the idea of "success". The writers explain how their work travelled from person to person, all around the World: it is because it is a great work, and the diet is efficient, it works!
"Success" is another component I'd like to discuss; in fact I must admit that it's something I always hope to reach. It makes me think to Andy Warhol's earlier writings, in which he declared openly his goal. It's another great question because I ear many artists saying they are only interested in "doing good art" and anything else; I'm not speaking about money that is another question, but I think that good art needs success, as success needs good art.
L'orMa 2013
It is funny, because it speaks in such a careless way about sacrifices, renunciantions, patience and discipline; I'm very familiar with this things because at the age of 15, when I was studying at the art school, I was overweight and in a year I have lost 33 Kilograms; That's why I said "the impossible made possible". For a overweight person (as for an addict or simply for a smoker) it is very difficult to see himself different, this for many reasons;
In fact, in spite of appearance, this book speaks about something really strong: you have to be ready to change yourself, to shape your mind and your body, outside and inside, to become someone else remaining yourself; and that's what I think about being an artist;
"you will learn to eat better and fewer, and you will accustom new liking.
You could be unaware, but at the end it's not important you to be conscious while following Scarsdale, but innate facts are transforming your habits (...)"
" A patient: Now that I have stabilized my weight at 75 kg, it's difficult for me to believe I've been a "fat man" (100kg). After I took out from my body that terrible fat in excess I became slim, now I breathe better, I have regenerated my energy and my resistance."
It makes me think to art as a journey, a long maybe infinite journey, that the artist does to reach something; this has inside a convulsive component, as in a bulimic person, who always tries to become more and more slim, until he dies!
So, what is an artist? if you asked me how I would define myself I think I'd answer a "normal person who follows art". I don't believe that every great artist must be a supernatural person; sometimes it happens but a great artist can only be a great artist. I'm following art just because I've always done it, since I was a child; I always created small sculptures, drawings, I was not so interested in other games. Growing up none of this stopped and someone suggested me that it was the time to study art to grow, and I did. In addition I consider Art as a (particular) work, with many rules and obligated steps.
I'm not sure that artist's life is better than other lives, maybe it would be better to stop working at 19.30, to leave the office, feed the cat, see a stupid but funny movie and go to sleep, but as I just said, what I do is different and it's not clear why.
Another interesting concept inside the book is "to create all with nothing"; This is another point at issue that an artist has to learn to "create art" (in particular for young artists without many resources);
Actually after 30 days (for example) of diet you begin to desire "great dishes"; you have to learn to create them without fats, carbohydrate, sugar, etc.; here is a long chapter dedicated to this concept and I learnt it is possible, in cooking and, when I worked as an artist assistant, in making art.
"It's stupid to think that people is ready to change habits. (...)
Studying the diet I have been stimulated by the necessity to create foods that had to be tasty, coloured (the aspect is important) and satisfactory, although without calories.
(...) It couldn't be any deficiency of vitamins and minerals in two weeks of diet, however the offered recipes have everything the body needs."
The last interesting idea, connected with the realization of this book, is situated at its beginning: the idea of "success". The writers explain how their work travelled from person to person, all around the World: it is because it is a great work, and the diet is efficient, it works!
"Success" is another component I'd like to discuss; in fact I must admit that it's something I always hope to reach. It makes me think to Andy Warhol's earlier writings, in which he declared openly his goal. It's another great question because I ear many artists saying they are only interested in "doing good art" and anything else; I'm not speaking about money that is another question, but I think that good art needs success, as success needs good art.
L'orMa 2013