Artista – Interview to Giovanni Leonardo Bassan

3 Maggio 2020

HW: What did you want to be when you grew up?

GLB: A painter, mmmmh actually maybe a chef

HW: How do you explain your art?

GLB: I have a hard time to explain my art, I always prefer the people to have their own understanding; doing mainly figurative painting, I am confident that my works can speak directly to the observer, without having to be the intermediary.

HW: Who introduced you to…..?

GLB: This question is easy, I guess is Michele Lamy, whatever the ‘…’ means

HW: Talk to us a little bit about how you got started…

GLB: I always been painting and drawing since I was a kid, but the point of change certainly happened in 2015 when I took my first art studio. It was a large windowless basement where I was spending every evening with my friends discussing and creating. We decided at some point to open the studio with an exhibition display for the first time my works along with some photographs of a talented friend of mine. 

HW: Which photographers/ painters/ artists are you a fan of?

GLB: I become a fan of new artists every single day, but if I have to pick my top five now it will be: ARTHUR JAFA, MICHAEL BORREMANS, LYNETTE YIADOM-BOAKYE, WOLFGANG TILLMANS, GORDON PARKS.

HW: What are you obsessed with right now?

GLB: Healing powers

HW: How would you describe your lifestyle?

GLB: Busy. Between my art and my wine company and working at the furniture department at Rick Owens I hardly find time to do sport and see my friends

HW: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

GLB: Don’t do things tomorrow you can do today

HW: Where do you get your inspiration from?

GLB: The inspirations were born in Italy and come with my personal journey to what surrounds me. I continually feel inspired by the talented people I know, from artists to activists, actors, photographers, and musicians. I am a participant but also an observer … particularly inspired by the night scene in which most people tend to lose their inhibitions and, in these moments, which are not “staged”, I try to steal honest images.

HW: What do you think your biggest personal or professional success has been so far?

GLB: Exposing one of my sculptures in Venice at Ca d’Oro during the last Art Biennale.

HW: What’s the dream?

GLB: The dream is to be able to focus only on my projects

HW: What is your biggest fear?

GLB: Clowns!

HW: What is fragility for you?

GLB: Truly opening yourself to emotions

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