MEOKO is proud to introduce its discerned audience to another strand of the great inspirational carpet that is our world we inhabit: the fine arts branch of the tree of creation.
Having been exposed to a lot of very talented and interesting visual artists in recent times, it just seems the next step in a logical progression to expanding our spectrum is to expose our readers not only to amazing musicians, labels, and club nights, but also to art shows, painters, photographers, film directors, exhibits and all the other activities this universe enthralls. There are plenty of opportunities, especially in the North of London, to be right in the thick of things…
MEOKO met Anna Laurini, a brilliant Italian artist, who shares Stoke Newington Studios as her place of work with us.
She not only managed to expand our universe, putting color on our map, but also bedazzled us with her mesmerizing personality. Read this interesting account on painting in blue, being selfish and a better self, hopefully through the simple benevolence of the audience. We are inclined to not only show good will but also transform ourselves into happier human beings just by following Anna´s great example. Her show exhibits at Stoke Newington Studios this Thursday and Friday, the 23rd and 24th January.
So tell us about Thursday, is it a solo show?
Yes, it is, kind of — I do have a couple of friends doing a visual installation as well, so technically it’s not a solo show — and there will be live jazz.
Do you always paint in blue?
No, but it is my favorite, and so this time I prepared all body of work in blue, normally I do all sorts.
So… tell me a little bit about yourself….where are you from?
I am from Milan in Italy, but I have been living between London and New York for the past 15 years.
How did you become to be a painter?
I have always been fascinated by colors and making things. Painting was always my favourite thing to do ever since I was very little.
How did this lead you to become an artist? Was this something natural for you? How did you find your way?
When I was living in New York, I discovered that actually it could be a full time way of living, not just a hobby.
How exactly did this happen? Is New York a good place for going professional, and if so, why?
It is not necessarily that NY is a good place for going professional, but it´s a good place for realising that you can do what you like in life, and it is very inspiring artistically.
Do you remember what led you to discover that we can do what we like in life and make it work?
I think I owe this to NY and the people I met when I was there, the chaos the streets and street art, and the sense of freedom from judgment. It is not that I love NY as much now, but back then, about 15 years ago, it was just liberating… then, of course, you have to find your way to make it work… Art as work.
Did you go there straight from Italy?
No, I was in London first. Then, after two years, I moved to NY. I was in NY for a while studying and discovering myself.
Did you study art then?
Yes. But I didn’t finish college.
Aahhhh the beautiful quest of self discovery… is it ever over?
I think so… I discovered who I am… but I would like to become a better me, and a better artist. Put me in the right place as it is only when I am making art I feel good and in harmony with myself.
It’s so crazy, isn’t it? It is so hard to get the balance right!
Very hard.
I find it interesting you feel like this, and that you admit it’s something ongoing. I know some artists who are so aloof, they would never admit to that.
Yes well, I think it is the only way for me to also escape from myself. By making art, I focus on beauty, not just on myself, so therefore I´m making me a better human being… maybe a bit controversial.
I like that. It´s an interesting theory, I love that it’s controversial, to me it makes perfect sense. Do you feel not good enough? As a artist AND person, both?
I am a better artist than a person, eheh. Totally.
In which sense do you focus on beauty when making art… During the process of making it by expressing beauty, or feeling beauty of having expressed yourself and thus receiving positive vibes from those who reflect on your art?
I’m focusing on trying to make beauty, and not only for recognition but for decorating this ugly world.
Do you paint in the street also?
Yes, only since last year. And guess why I started: I was bored to always see the same stuff painted by egomaniac artists, ehehe. London is full of them.
Did you meet them in person or did you just feel this through their art and the way they express it?
Their art and their way to express it — and also, they are supported by those idiot street art tours in East London which they ruining the quality of this artform. Street art in London is a commercial thing now. Ridiculous. People pay to get a tour of street art. Have you ever heard anything like that anywhere else??
In Buenos Aires where I lived for eight years, friends of mine started this enterprise, they are from London, www.graffitimundo.com
No way, oh no, I think it’s pretty uncool but anyway, I guess, some people ran out of ideas of how to make money.
Or have become really inventive. Well, in Argentina it actually helped a lot of artists to get recognition for their art and get paid for it too. But well, it is weird I must admit, the art business in general chokes very much with the actual incitement of why to make art in the first place…
Yes, I guess, this is also true. I didn’t think of that. Perhaps in the street art world it is harder to make money as it is on the street and people don’t buy walls. Well, some do, yes…
I did not like the London art world at all, I was living there and only felt appalled by the Saatchi stuff. So street art for me felt more real, nevertheless… Almost all of the Argentinean “street” artists who are really world famous now come from art backgrounds and have painter parents etc….. so it was just a rebellious way of having their own style but they found their way back into the galleries through a young and more dynamic art world… It is liberating to paint in the street though, it must feel good for you. But it´s so illegal in London, isn’t it?
Painting in the street is the best. In London it´s illegal, yes, but in East London they are more relaxed about it, as it is a sort of tourist attraction.
You are in the same studio as MEOKO. So you work and show there? An in-house exhibit so to speak?
Yes. I have been art directing the Stoke Newington Studios since last October, being in charge of their exhibitions.
Do you make objects too, or do you just paint?
I just paint.
But you work with a lot of textures on your paint, with canvasses that can be full of three dimensional paint work….
Yes, I do make the texture more interesting I stick clothes, cardboards, all sort on the canvas when I do my abstract pieces.
You seem to stick with general abstraction and the female body, is this something you always return to?
Yes I just like female curves to paint…I am not sure why… I like men, but not to paint.
It seems more some kind of self reflection.
Yes maybe, but I’d like to think that it is not about me.
Maybe it’s a more human experience.
Exactly!!! thank you for bringing that out.
What about the blue? It feels like something quite important too, especially for this show. Ah to come back to the human experience, I think this is why you add the thoughts too, the written statements of reflection.
Yes, I like blue and as I said this is the first time I allow myself to create the entire series in blue, it may be boring for the viewer, but I loved it when I was making it. I’ve been selfish I must admit, this one time, ehehe.
No waaay how can you think this???
Because I made only blue paintings for this show, eheh. Well to be honest, I always try to make the viewer happy.
It is a great idea to challenge yourself and others, too… especially when the question is: how do you keep repetition interesting for everyone?
I guess it is by painting something new for every show.
For me this is a sign you really enjoyed it, so how can this enjoyment be boring for the onlooker? It shows somehow, I am convinced. I can feel your art makes you happy, and this makes the person who looks at it happy, too. It is impossible not to sense this. Thank you for this great interview and see you all in the show, we are so excited about it, and hope our readers will be too.
Anna has very kindly offered to give one of her incredible paintings away as a prize to one of our very lucky MEOKO readers. To win, please email us at hello_competitions@devmeoko.co.uk with ‘Anna Laurini’ in the subject title…the winner will have a choice from Anna’s unique collection.
La Vie en Bleu, Anna Laurini & KB Blending Private View Exhibition this Thursday and Friday, the 23rd and 24th January. 6pm – 11.45 at the STOKE NEWINGTON STUDIOS // EVENT DETAILS
WORDS by Katrin Richter
