Captivity
When asked about his artistic influences,Marco Grassioften creditssfumatoas one of them.
And so Grassis own visual language emerged.
Ethereal Embraceis another poignant example of this.
“Captivity”
I usually incorporate symbolic and surreal elements, Grassi explains to My Modern Met.
Read on for My Modern Mets exclusive interview with the artist.
Detail from Paradox of Evolution.
Detail from “Paradox of Evolution.”
What originally drew you to hyperrealistic painting, and how have you developed your representational skills over time?
I have always admired the Old Masters and tried to see reality through their eyes.
I wanted to capture the gentle expressions of their figures and the soft transitions they perfected during the Renaissance.
Detail from “Paradox of Evolution.”
What is the process of creating one of your paintings?
Everything starts with an ideasomething I care about, something that worries me.
Then I prepare the canvas.
“Paradox of Evolution.”
I prefer to sketch my composition directly on it first.
I then proceed with multiple layers of color.
Detail from Virtual Reality.
Detail from “Virtual Reality.”
How do you achieve such microscopic levels of detail in your paintings?
I think, to some extent, I am precise and meticulous.
However, I consider the observation of nature to be the most important aspect.
“Ethereal Embrace.”
How does light hit a surface?
How does it change color?
How do shadows behave?
Detail from “Ethereal Embrace.”
The same principles apply.
Detail from Ethereal Embrace.
What is the traditional sfumato technique?
“The Secret Room.”
Why is it important to your work, and how have you reinterpreted it?
Sfumato is a painting technique developed during the Renaissance.
I believe sfumato can give paintings an otherworldly softness and refinement.
“Edge of the Self.”
You often depict women in your paintings.
What compels you about women as artistic and thematic subjects?
Besides that, I feel drawn to an antique aesthetica timeless beauty that isnt necessarily tied to contemporary trends.
“Mother of Pearl.”
Edge of the Self.
How would you describe your work in only a few sentences to someone who is unfamiliar with it?
I paint lyrical and hyperrealistic representations, mainly of human figures.
Detail from “Mother of Pearl.”
I almost never depict a person simply as they are.
I usually incorporate symbolic and surreal elements, transforming limbs into inanimate materials like fine china or precious stones.
My works often explore human nature or our corrupted relationship with the natural world and non-human animals.
Marco Grassi in his studio.
Detail from Mother of Pearl.
Marco Grassi in his studio.
What do you hope people will take away from your work?
First of all, I truly hope they enjoy the painting.
Its something I can never get enough of when I visit a museum or art gallery.
I love the moment when I first encounter a work of art that speaks to me.
I hope others feel the same way when they stand in front of my paintings.
Besides that, there are many themes that I deeply care about and that often lie behind my works.
My hope is that looking at my paintings goes beyond mere observing details.
