THE MARBLE PROJECT
PITTI UOMO
PART II
THE ARTIST
Michele Monfroni is the sculptor who signs the pieces exhibited in the Massimo Dutti store in Florence as part of The Marble Project. Born in Carrara, his own artistic career is characterized by expressionist features that move away from figurative representation and delineate forms full of organic vitality.
PART. 2
THE ARTIST
What is your passion and goal as an artist?
My passion is everything I create. My works give me strength and serenity. The art I create is pure Freedom, seeking appreciation in what I want to convey. The goal is to stimulate both positive and negative thoughts and the minds of those who see or touch my works.
Where does your creative process originate?
My creative process comes from seeing the world around me. Everything for me is an impulse, an idea. Understand, design and create using different materials.
When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
Becoming an artist is not understood is something that inexplicably you have inside. My formation was very important, to see and follow in my father’s footsteps since I was a child. Then it’s like climbing a ladder, growing up I realized I’m lucky to be able to conceive and create something of my own, maybe now, I’m realizing I’m an artist.
“My creative process comes from seeing the world around me. Everything for me is an impulse, an idea.”
PITTI UOMO
PART II
THE ARTIST
What was a major influence in your sculptural pursuit?
My greatest influence is all that the past has brought to the present day. Great sculptors and works that stimulate me a mix between classic and modern.
You said “If Michelangelo saw the robots, he would tear out his hair”. “Robots are business, sculpture is passion.” What kinds of techniques do you use?
True. Clearly technology helps us in our daily work, but in my opinion it cannot replace the genius and creativity of the Man-Artist. The dexterity in creating a work totally by hand is something unique for me. Effort and passion that is satisfied by unique emotions and getting to complete a work with traditional techniques is a challenge between me and the material.
Please tell us about the process.
The work comes from the choice of material, know the characteristics of the different types of marble. Knowing how to distinguish what type of material is suitable for sculpture, whether it is my work or a commissioned work, is very important in order to achieve a good result.
When we think of your artwork and your project for Massimo Dutti it is as much the place. Where and how do the objects interplay with one another? Where do they interplay with the space?
The place is fundamental for me. The luck of being born in a place where I can express my ideas and emotions is priceless. I see a connection between my world and that of Massimo Dutti, or the creation of something that comes from a thought and turns into reality; Fashion or Sculpture Ateliers are places that without knowing it interact with each other through a keyword: Creativity.
“The art I create is pure freedom, seeking appreciation in what I want to convey.”
