I paint every thing that holds a story, a secret, a fascination or power, an aesthetic attraction, intellectual or spiritual. Like an expert archaeologist I investigate that physical reality and I analyse it, I scrutinise it, I manipulate and discover and dissect every detail, every component useful for discovering the most intrinsic secrets which render that thing unique.
A flower, an atmosphere, a sensation, a reflection on water, a ray of light or a long shadow, all can become subjects of my investigation, but the element which attracts me the most is the human figure, with all its physical and psychological facets.
I express myself with the most traditional techniques such as pencil, chalk pastels or oil. My work becomes an installation when, to emphasise and heighten its contents, I reproduce it wholly or in part on large plotters, placing these in open spaces.
In Portraits, Artistic People, I paint portraits of people from the artistic world, actors in history who leave a profound mark, who distinguish themselves, who are charismatic, materially or intellectually: artists, critics, curators, dealers, collectors and patrons who I have encountered personally or indirectly.
They are represented with serious, authoritative faces. The expression is often severe, still and detailed, the background flat or romantic but also informal and lively.
Always life size, I paint full-length portraits or the face only, standing or seated, perhaps with an object nearby which belongs to the world in which the subject moves.
The technique and the style depend on the subject.
The paintings are in various formats: 50 x 60cm to 120 x 200 cm, on board or on paper.
Mimmo Alfarone