The echo of an absence
Vittorio Bustaffa is a painter, draftsman, and illustrator; he's also a revered teacher at the Scuola Internazionale Comics in Padua and Brescia. My encounter with Vittorio took place at his home studio in Padua, a place that mirrors his profound connection with his artistic subject matter. Within this physical and mental refuge, Vittorio delves deep into his creative universe, where literary, philosophical, mythological, and musical influences converge to shape his work.
The intricate layers within Bustaffa's creations both awe and challenge me, urging me to unravel the origins of each complex and multifaceted piece. During our meeting, the Baroque classical music playing in the background transcended its role as mere ambiance; it became an integral part of Vittorio's artistic process, a sensory dimension that enriched his interaction with the materials.
Photo: Lorenzo Morandi
Conversation: Lorenzo Morandi, Vittorio Bustaffa
LM:
Your artworks seem suspended in a liminal state, where images emerge yet linger in an undefined realm. I'm reminded of the blurred areas in a photograph, or perhaps a prolonged exposure that captures a continuum of movement, a sequence of moments frozen within a single two-dimensional plane. Your creative process entails gestures that repeat, overlap, and intertwine.
VB:
Painting, to me, is both a dialogue with oneself and with others. It involves constant questioning and introspection. Identifying the right questions serves as a catalyst for the creation process, leading to gestures that are captured on the canvas, that transcends its two-dimensional nature to become multidimensional when viewed through attentive and perceptive eyes. For me, slowness is essential, especially in the mental realm. Each gesture is preceded by careful preparation, as I wait for the right moment when the energies align, guiding my hand. Sometimes, I close my eyes, allowing my body's sensations to guide my movements. Evoking a world holds meaning only when we acknowledge the need to continually reassess, rethink, and rediscover it, without a fixed destination or goal, but driven by an innate restlessness and a quest for deeper understanding. Everything is interconnected.
LM:
Your artworks seem to reach a point where the gestures cease, and yet, the piece feels complete, despite its inherent ambiguity. It's as though they embody a synthesis that transcends logical comprehension, hinting at an underlying absence.
VB:
The absence I seek to evoke embodies the inherent unattainability of certain truths, a concept deeply rooted in Romantic poetry but resonant with contemporary relevance. It symbolizes the spiritual journey toward rediscovering the sacredness of the world, of which humanity is an integral part. This unreachable essence represents self-knowledge and an understanding of the world itself. Thus, the completed artwork, much like in Romantic philosophy, holds less significance than the transformative process that leads to its creation.
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