Αυτή η συνέντευξη δεν μοιάζει με τις άλλες…
Είναι υποθετική…
Ταξιδεύει μέσα στον χρόνο και συναντά τον… Μιχαήλ Άγγελο, τον μεγάλο ζωγράφο της Αναγέννησης !
An imaginary interview with one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance:
-To begin with, tell us a bit about yourself:
-My name is Michelangelo Buonarroti, and I was born in 1475. My homeland is Carpese, and I am currently living in Rome where I work as a painter, sculptor and part-time architect. No more special facts about me though…you may proceed with your questions…
- Surely. First of all, which is your most beloved piece and why?
-You know, an artist considers all his pieces his own children. They are product of one’s imagination and creativity, a painting does not only consist of paint and brushstrokes: it is rather a piece of my innermost thoughts and feelings, it is a piece of my soul, I would dare say. That being said, expressing my preference for one of my pieces would be rather selfish…I could never deny however that “Pieta”, the sculpture in the Cathedral of St Peter, holds particular importance for me: it reminds me of my old self, the person I used to be, driven by passion for religion and art, a young man full of talent and will. I miss him sometimes…
- Which aspect of your profession would you consider to be the most challenging?
- Being a professional artist is more intriguing than most people dare imagine. The effort one has to make in order to understand the client’s preferences and demands is hard to grapple with…Especially if your client happens to be the Pope himself… Timelines, precision, rivalry are some of the main hardships. But it all boils down to the following : becoming a professional artist means you have to take it seriously… as if being a doctor or a fisherman. You have to put aside your instincts and abstract feelings, it stops being a pure form of art and self expression.
- What about your so called “ rivalry” with Raphael? Would you confirm those rumors?
-There is no one-sided rivalry in this world my dear. I had never aimed at becoming Raphael’s rival. He was the one who incited the whole thing when he convinced the Pope to hire me for the decoration of the Sistine Chapel… It would have been foolish if I had let the chance go by…I won’t deny that the greatest masterpieces are created when rivalry interferes…But that’s not to say that it was personal; he just pushed me a step further…The least I could say is thank you though, however ironic that may sound.
- Do you consider yourself a prodigy?
- I am not the right person to ask. I cannot judge or comment on my skills and abilities; the public is responsible for that… My artwork is what will be left behind and I will be judged on that…The criteria will not only be the aesthetically pleasing features and the correct proportions but the feelings my paintings will incite. Nevertheless, I don’t like to be called a prodigy. A hard working artist would be a more appropriate comment on my opinion. There are hundreds of “prodigies” out there you know…Success is a combination of hard work and talent, that’s for sure.
-And lastly, what would your advice be for the future young artists?
- Don’t be disappointed if the tint is not correct or if one eye is bigger than the other…Art is not about being perfect…it is about making an effort…Try, start again, let yourself fail, contemplate on your mistakes…there is no easy way for improvement. Perfection is not a gift, it is an achievement. Don’t be hesitant to learn, study the old masters, observe the world around you : there is no greater form of art.
Thank you for your time, it was a great pleasure meeting you !
Τέντα Δήμητρα Β6
