Artist in conversation: Valeria Fittipaldi
“Now is the right time for me to contribute through my artistic practice, to give voice to those who don't have it, to break barriers and instill courage, and to challenge myself by facing changes”
Valeria Fittipaldi is a versatile visual artist from Naples, Italy, known for her diverse artistic expressions across installation, sculpture, sound, video, and performance art.
At the core of her creative pursuits lies a profound commitment to challenging gender stereotypes and empowering women. Valeria's work delves into themes of resilience, renewal, and the unyielding determination of women to overcome societal constraints. Her art defies expectations of defeat, emphasizing the enduring strength and unwavering resolve inherent in every individual.
Valeria Fittipaldi's art serves as a poignant narrative, amplifying the struggles that hinder personal expression and disrupt everyday life. Through her creations, she sheds light on the barriers that impede progress and advocates for a world where participation in societal norms is viewed as a choice rather than an imposition.
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What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
My decision was born from the memory of inner peace when I was a child and used to draw.
Later, in 2003, I created the brand Vquadro Italy: accessories for women and home, unique self-produced pieces, timeless and without fashion. I felt like I was in another world when I engaged in this practice. At some point, I realized that I had the need to expand my knowledge through studying. In fact, in 2020, I enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples with the goal of deepening my artistic education, and thus began a love story that added a new chapter to my life journey. After obtaining my degree in 2023, I enrolled in the Academic Diploma of the 2nd level in Sculpture, where I found my expressive medium.
The values that have been passed down by my family are those of intellectual independence and, above all, freedom of choice. I realized that the battles for women's independence have been fought by others and I have only experienced them as a spectator. Now is the right time for me to contribute through my artistic practice, to give voice to those who don't have it, to break barriers and instill courage, and to challenge myself by facing changes.
In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?
Through the use of various languages: installation, sculpture, sound, video, performance, my work explores the desire to break free from the stereotypes that constrain the journey of women, their resilience, their ability to rise again, to start anew, with the purpose of overturning the predictions of defeat and never exhausting their strength and determination.
Being a voice, amplifying the discomfort that limits, in addition to freedom of expression, the normal course of everyday life.
Quoting artist Andrea Bowers: "Participation in this system is a choice. 'I will be post-feminist in the post-patriarchy'".
How has your artistic style evolved over the years, and what factors contributed to these changes?
The courage to get back in the game by pursuing an academic path has pushed me to give more and more, experimenting with new media and techniques. I started with painting and collage, and then moved on to sculpture and video art, where I found my way of expressing myself, considering the boundaries of the canvas too limiting. I have learned to look at everything with a different perspective, delving into topics of my interest.
Could you walk us through your creative process from ideation to completion?
Reading the news from the New York Times about the latest Synod of the Catholic Church, held in October 2023, it was highlighted that for the first time, about 40 women participated. Reflecting on the need for a change in the patriarchal culture in Italy and the world, it would be desirable to see a reversal that could have a truly epoch-making impact in terms of visibility and awareness.
From this point, I started and created "Mistess," two miters, the headgear of the Bishops and the Pope in official events, hand-sewn with precious fabrics, displayed on two pedestals at the height of a woman, featuring a blonde braid and a tail of black braids as a distinctive sign. These symbols represent a discriminatory society towards women and different ethnicities in our world.
The artwork aims to testify to the marginalization of women throughout history in the Catholic Church, an institution that, by its nature, should strive for equality among all human beings. Even the timid openings of the latest Synod, which allowed women to vote for the first time, already represent a step forward towards the necessary cultural upheaval for change.
Subsequently, the idea of a 1:06-minute video installation in a loop with audio was born.
Can you share a specific piece of artwork that holds special significance to you?
In the "Handover, 2023" installation, it was the first time I tried using clay for my works. The installation aims to depict a terrestrial landscape characterized by debris born from wounds, modifications, and layers created by time.
At first glance, the artifacts may appear as tree barks emptied of their essential function, like envelopes devoid of lifeblood.
They represent the omen of fragility, emptiness, and the transformation of an apocalyptic landscape that we are handing over to my children, our children, as direct heirs and recipients of the passage experienced by those who came before them and who cared little and poorly for their future, exploiting natural resources excessively and thoughtlessly.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
In the recent collective exhibition "House," where I exhibited "Mistress," I met many participants who showed attention and curiosity towards my work, complimenting how the message came across clearly and immediately. However, it had received a couple of rejections from galleries, as it was considered too political of a theme. This gave me the certainty to continue on this path.
Nevertheless, criticisms are always constructive; they help to understand other points of view.
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
I engage in introspective work in search of a new language. Sometimes, I realize that behind those moments of pause, there is an evolutionary process of my idea, which I nurture through practical actions. I go out, explore my city, filled with history and overlapping layers, browse newspapers, and search through media for that detail that could help complete my embryonic idea. Inspiration can be found everywhere.
Once, I was engulfed in this discomfort, but while walking, I came across an interesting shape. It had fallen out of a trash bin, flattened on the pavement, and it became a great source of inspiration for me.
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
What interests me the most about the opportunity to showcase at the Holy Art Gallery is the international dialogue that this experience allows me to engage in. I truly believe in the creative evolution that I have cultivated through constant and structured exchange, both within and outside of my work.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
I intend to refine my creative perception in order to interpret urgent and current issues, and to contribute to the necessary change that we are all called to. It is important for me to build a network of interdisciplinary skills beyond the daily practice of creation. In order to make a difference in the world, I will strive to create through the beauty that will be present in my work, a demonstrative vision of the path to approach the possibility of hope.
What role does emotion play in your creative process, and and how do you aim to evoke specific feelings or reactions from those who view your artworks?
The birth of an idea and its realization is the part that I enjoy the most, thinking about provoking a deep impression on the audience, being explicit and not neglecting the aesthetic aspect. I always wonder what value the vision of my work will release to the participant.
My latest project "Mistress" has received a couple of rejections from galleries, as it was considered too political. This actually pushed me to continue on this path.
During the presentation of the video installation "Mistress," many approached me to tell me how much it had impacted them and how clear my message was.