The Space In Between By Margherita Chiarva
Today is the first official day of Madrid’s art fair Arco 2020, and the city is buzzing with activity and excitement. There are a lot of expectations this year, particularly as last year’s attendees were impressed in terms of the quality of art work presented, the galleries exposing, international audiences coming from everywhere and the overall presentation at the fair.
One of the artists I am most looking forward to meeting this week is the Italian artist Margherita Chiarva, (1985) who is presenting her work “ The Space In Between” at Mondo Galeria.
The photographer who is from Milan, conceives an “ organic style” to her work where the idea stems from the interaction with materials ( the sea, chemicals, etc) and creative research. Graduated from Central Saint Martins in London, she formed a collective based in Istanbul in 2014 and since works manually with analogous methods. Her photographic journey is based mainly on her investigation of manual techniques and a personal revelation through images. The exhibition curated by AD Studio is completed by a soundscape created by composer Toni Castells.
Margherita tell us your greatest inspirations?
Everything can be an inspiration if we look carefully.
Tell us about your creative process for this exhibition
My creative process usually ( literally) develops in the darkroom, where I focus on bringing together my exploration into the subconcious through light and chemicals in a safe, solitary zone. A sort of creative womb where I feel free to let the creative process flow.
The space in between is a series of photograms made with condoms, basically a 1:1 scale negative record of a shadow with the intention of provoking pareidolia effect ( the tendency to interpret a vague stimulus as something known to the observer, like when you look at a cloud and see an elephant for example ).
Many people in the art world, don’t take the medium of photography as serious as other forms of art, what are your thoughts?
As you well said we are talking about mediums. As such they should just serve the purpose and not being considered art for their technical attributes. So, as soon as one’s idea or feeling is translated into whatever form, shared and perceived, then we can call it art.
Photography and its usage is changing in parallel to society. Lately I feel overwhelmed by images, we are constantly bombed by information we don’t even seek, photography has become a service to build up ideas of selves rather than picturing reality as it is.
Thats why I’ve been working on abstract forms, creating new realities that will guide the mind to imagine rather than being manipulated with half-truths and shameless fictions that we often encounter in this digital era.
What are some themes you explore in your work?
I’m interested in rituals and I use art as a medium to perform them. Even printing in the darkroom is for me a ceremonial experience, where I can explore the deepest sides of myself.
What about your collaboration with Toni for the exhibition?
Toni is a great musician and composer and a very special being and I’m honored and happy to have been collaborating with him.
Favourite websites, social media handles?
I’d love to share something personal about your approach to life, nature, relationships?
I live between Milan and ibiza and have been traveling around the world. I am lucky because I get energy from both the city and nature and I don’t really separate work and life . Everything that surrounds us is a spark for exploration, mostly nature, the pioneer of every art.
