WOL75's art is not just an aesthetic pleasure, but a journey on self-discovery. Read the interview to discover more.
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Tell me about the M Recollection
The mental noise that often plagues our thoughts is a subject that I struggled with in 2013 and 2014, when dissatisfaction in work and life. This led to a sabbatical year and the creation of the M Recollection, which serves as a reflection of the mental noise that was once present. The M Recollection delves into the inner workings of our mind and how it affects our daily behavior. What are the ingredients of our memory? I started the M Recollection in 2014 and it contains 8 artworks, but it still feels unfinished. This is because I made a lot of sketches in the beginning and often I pick them up after a couple of years and start creating again.
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What do you think people might feel by looking at your paintings?
I always receive different feedback from my art watchers. However, the most common response is that my artworks catch their attention and keep it. This is because the artworks create an initial feeling of discomfort that makes you want to see more and discover more. I am a visual storyteller and my purpose is to make sure they leave the room questioning who they are. I also aim to break in a watcher’s safe environment with my art and perceive it as a medicine to awareness.
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What do the pointy and metal objects represent?
All metal and mechanical objects have a meaning within my artworks. They are a metaphor to a physical embodiment of the human mind. I chose to do this to highlight the human and mind complexity. In the Retrieval 377 artwork, I placed two baskets that are breeding baskets for birds. These portray the support towards intrusive thoughts. Then, the arms are mechanical, representing the automatic behavior we have. Without thinking, our thoughts are programmed and impulsive like a robot. The helmet is black due to the unseen mental images and thoughts. The subjects have belts around them that represent bondage, pain and constriction. The legs with the hooks represent the amygdala, which is responsible for our emotions and makes the subject look like a seahorse floating in space. The amygdala also gave the name to two other artworks - Amy G and Dala.
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Your artworks in this collection tend to have the same subject over and over again. Can you tell us why and what they represent?
The subject you are referring to is Amy G and Dala. The meaning behind this is the growth and evolution of every thought. For instance, you may notice that in some artworks, the subject reigns. However, in the latest ones, there are more gears and complications. The M Recollection is basically one story and every artwork is a part of the same story, as if it was a novel or some ingredients of one cake.
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What is a quote that represents you and your work?
A quote that represents me is from the scientist Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Watch your thoughts for they become words, watch your words for they become actions, watch your actions, for they become habits, watch your habits for they become your character, watch your character for it becomes your destiny”.
Cover image: WOL75, Retrieval 330, 2014. Courtesy of WOL75
Written by Sveva Berto
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