Serena Maisto, you recently presented your catalog “Emotions in search of form” which contains your first twenty years of artistic career. What is your professional and personal assessment of this long experience?
«I wouldn't like to talk about a balance sheet because it gives me the idea of something that ends, while I am closer to a concept of evolution, to something that continues but at the same time transforms. Here, perhaps the most correct image is that of a turning point, to unfurl the sails towards a stretch of sea that is still unknown and driven by a new and favorable wind. In any case, if I stop to look at the work done so far I can say that I am overall happy and satisfied, with many works of which I am particularly proud: I am thinking, among others, of the elaborations on Edo Bertoglio's photographs or of the exhibitions held with Stefano Cortesi's gallery".
What are the reasons that led you to “ZOOM out” and temporarily distance yourself from the world of art galleries?
«I strongly felt the need to take a sort of sabbatical, not in the sense of distancing myself from my work, which will indeed continue more intensely than ever, but rather from the world of galleries, exhibitions and art fairs. This is not, I want to strongly underline, a criticism of the important work that they carry out, but rather my intimate need, or desire, to experiment with different ways of working that can allow me greater freedom in expressing my creativity, respect my time, cultivating the human relationships that are closest to my heart: all these elements constitute an essential aspect of my work and at this moment I absolutely want to preserve it. In this period I will continue to explore my world, painting after new inspirations, but these will not be shown to the public immediately and kept hidden until the right moment, when I return to the world of Art gallery».
So what will be the plans of your new STUDIO•80?
«I recently moved into this new space. Below there will be my apartment, above the atelier and a room used both as an office and as a place for private events. The aspiration will not be to hold exhibitions, but to create a meeting point, almost a living room, for people wishing to collaborate. It will be able to host readings, live musical performances or simply conversations between people who still know how to appreciate the value of the word without being constantly tormented by the urge to consult their mobile phone.
Why STUDIO•80? The name is intended to recall Warhol's Studio54, with a reference to the 80s. I would like to recreate a serene and peaceful atmosphere, happy and with the desire for interaction. Few social networks, but many live words. Furthermore, 1982 is my year, so there couldn't be a better way to recall a personal and artistic journey also in the name of the studio."
You have chosen to collaborate with interior designers, architects, companies and individuals with the desire to create site-specific works of art on commission. You think this approach will allow you to continue to freely express your art and why do you intend to give space to creations only on commission?
«The basic idea behind my choice is to establish a more intimate and personal relationship with the client, with whom I can form a constant and continuous relationship that starts from the design to the creation of the work of art, sometimes even on site . Creating on commission allows me to have no limits in my inspiration, because obviously no one ever tells me how to create a work. The style of the commissioned work is chosen together, then I always have carte blanche to express my art. Simply, the work is tailor-made to be inserted in the most suitable way in a certain place. In this perspective of intensifying my commissioned work, I have also recently started a beautiful collaboration with Manuela Ronchi, director and owner of Action Agency Advanced Communication, the communication agency that will support me on my new path".
Exploring Serena: a concept, an idea, a title to describe your new website. Can we delve deeper into how you intend to tell your world?
«Exploring Serena will be like a title, a background of words that will describe the style of my new website. My goal is to create a close connection between real and virtual: people will be able to get to know me by coming to the studio, but also by writing to me and speaking directly to me via the internet. The new concept is to achieve total openness towards those interested in discovering my world. Those who connect online will also be given the opportunity to become supporters of STUDIO•80, with the possibility of participating in the private events organized during the year."
Looking to the future, what are the projects that are closest to your heart or that you have in progress?
«I would very much like to be able to create very large works, intended for hotel lobbies, the entrances of buildings, the private rooms of banks and companies, without of course forgetting public spaces and private residences. In March 2023 I completed an important job in Tesserete on behalf of Raiffeisen Bank, while I am currently trying to close two exclusive contracts with two leading companies in the real estate, interior design and planning sector. And again, I'm organizing the first commissioned project from Los Angeles for the next few months."
In conclusion, what can we expect from this “ZOOM out” period?
«I chose to step away for a moment to see things from further away. But they will still be intense months because in addition to the works in progress already commissioned, I intend to focus on my personal artistic path. So, for example, I want to intensify my reflections on the theme of the relationship between Appearance/Reality, creating paintings painted on the back that can be seen from both sides. And then there is my, never dormant, passion for abstract graphic works, or research into materials, such as raw linen canvases which give the works a particular sensation of purity and elegance. In short, there is certainly no shortage of projects and ideas. The journey of an artist is wonderfully infinite, and I am only at the beginning. To then throw myself back into a more decisive and mature “ZOOM in”.
