Artist Francesco Vezzoli shares his private thoughts on pride, risk-taking and tortellini in his answers to Jefferson Hack's Question Air
The work of Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli is Warholian in its embrace of the power of celebrity and popular culture, as seen most recently at MoCA’s 30th anniversary gala in November last year when he brought together Lady Gaga and the Bolshoi Ballet in a collaborative performance piece. Making up part of the Enea Righi Collection, one of the most significant private collections of contemporary art, his work is currently on show at the Museion of Modern and Contemporary art in Bolzano, Italy. Here, he shares his private thoughts on pride, risk-taking and tortellini.
What are you thinking of right now?
Sex, LOVE and my next projects
What makes you laugh?
Almodovar movies
What makes you cry?
Almodovar movies
What do you consider to be the greatest invention?
Fashion shows – I just love them
Do you have a mentor or inspirational figure that has guided or influenced you?
Herbert Muschamp
Where do you feel most at home?
Hotel rooms
Where are you right now?
A friend’s office in Milan, where I sleep when I am in town.
What is your proudest achievement in work?
I have no idea. I am happy if my mother is proud of me; I am never proud of myself. Not yet at least.
What is your proudest achievement and in life?
I am happy if my father is proud of me. I can NOT think of any pride related myself.
What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?
I embrace culture; I don’t judge it.
What do you most like about the age we live in?
Magazines and televisions – the media.
At what points do life and work intersect?
Always, absolutely. ABSOLUTELY always.
What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
I can’t think of any REAL risk that I might have taken. Real risk takers are firemen, soldiers, doctors in war zones... I just lead a crazy stressful but very privileged life, that’s all
Recommend a book or poem that has changed your perspective on life.
A movie – CITIZEN KANE
What is your earliest childhood memory?
Watching the Kessler twin sisters and Raffaella Carra and Mina in a TV show called MILLELUCI, which could be translated in THOUSANDS BRIGHT LIGHTS, on my grandmother’s ottoman.
What’s the most important relationship in your life?
With my mother and my best friend Luca.
What’s the most romantic action you’ve taken?
My entire life.
What’s the most spiritual action you’ve taken?
Going to the gym regularly.
If you could wish for one change in the world what would it be?
I’d like to change the end of the movie THE AGE OF INNOCENCE. Of course I am kidding, but what am I supposed to say? No more wars? No more religious fanaticism? People no longer starving or suffering from a lack of civil rights? I guess all these issues are just too obvious to be mentioned and I would sound ridiculous, but of course above anything else I wish for a less painful life for everyone in the world.
