Biography
Mara Braidotti was born in Genoa, where she currently lives and works. After graduating at the Music Conservatory in her hometown and achieving a diploma as Fashion Designer (followed by a master in Fashion styling), she decides to leave her job as a teacher to pursue her true passion: Visual Arts.
From the early works, in which graphic lines and the use of watercolour predominate, the transition to the acrylics and oils arrives naturally.
Spurred by curiosity as well as the need to express herself through colours, she starts a long inner process of research, painting a variety of subjects; the first works in fact show a strong figurative and landscaped inspiration which vaguely recall the Impressionism.
Fascinated by the typical Art Nouveau decoration, after learning the basics of restoration and also of leaf gilding, the artist projects her artistic vision to a different level, which marks a further step towards a total freedom of expression: the pure pleasure of decorating using gold, silver and copper inserts will adorn much more dreamlike canvases characterized by a new and conscious push towards the Abstract.
True to herself and always totally free from academic or commercial constraints, the artist paints just for the pleasure of it, regardless of the critic. Encouraged, however, by flattering comments of well-known artists, the next step sees her more into the pictorial expressive techniques which are very close to the Informal.
The works are becoming more wide-ranging material in which the artist feels completely at ease.
The colours, essential vehicle of communication and overbearing presence in her art, along with the materials used on canvas, cardboard or even boards, meet and create combinations of different and conflicting elements which strengthen altogether in her latest works.
These works appear extremely expressive and tactile in which the severe lines recall certain Verticalism typical of Seurat.
Geometries and sharp edges meet swirls and soft strokes deliberately ornamental, where the spirit of the artist expresses itself in full.
The figures lose and regain their essence in a succession of almost playful glitter; the gestures become freer and freer from any kind of restrictions. Now, a clear intention to communicate with maturity and wisdom through conceptual and symbolic context can be seen from the titles of her works, also as point of arrival of the artistic experience in which the artist recognizes her own way. At the beginning of 2014 began to experiment the techniques of collage and mosaics made of paper.
Brushes and colors are momentarily put aside to use scissors and glue.
This is the beginning of an exciting and coherent path
that melts and binds tightly her personal artistic experience gained so far.
An additional window on visual art is now open as much as her interest for Wire Wrapping art and plastic recycling art.
