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What is your favourite film of all time?

There are several films and TV series I like, such as Salò, by Pasolini, Requiem For a Dream or Twin Peaks, by David Lynch, but I really don’t have a favourite one. On a lighter note, I have to admit my love for Bo’ Selecta and Catherine Tate, along with pure blockbuster entertainment!

What music are you currently listening to and why?

I am listening to a lot of Diamanda Galàs these days, I always find it hard to say why I like her so much, but I guess it has to do with the way she describes and sings about pain, making this a very realistic, personal and tangible aspect in everybody’s life.

Which living artists do you most admire and why?

It has to be Diamanda Galàs again, for the reasons I have already explained. In my opinion our contemporary music scene is fairly dry, and she’s one of the few ones that is still able to communicate something strong and, more importantly, universal.

Which deceased artist do you most admire and why?

It is probably Edith Piaf. I hate to describe her with these words, but in my opinion she was a very small but powerful woman, who lived her short existence to the full, acknowledging and accepting either the good and bad In life.

Which exhibition that you have visited made the greatest impact on you and why?

There isn’t a single exhibition, but every time I see a very famous painting, or a sculpture, or a landmark, I get a great sense of achievement. This is probably the main influence in my work: the unmediated experience of something, or someone, we have always seen in the media gives me a strange sense of completion and harmony.

What is the question you get asked most frequently about your work and how do you answer it?

Normally people laugh or smile when they see my work and then they ask me why I am so cruel. I say that I like making cruel people laugh.

What / who inspired you to be an artist?

If you saw my secondary school books you’d know why: they’re like old sketchbooks! It’s a shame that Latin, History and Philosophy books aren’t as cheap as a plain sketchbook! Nothing really inspired me to be an artist, even because I don’t consider myself to be one…I didn’t wake up one morning and decided that I wanted to be an artist but I guess that when you have a certain kind of sensitivity you always feel the need of sharing it with the world.

Can you tell us about where you make your art and what if any the significance of this location is?

I make my art in my bedroom, or in front of my laptop, on my own, in utterly religious silence. It is like a meditative practice and it can go on for many, many hours, so it has to in a comfortable, quiet place with lots of chocolate, Coke and fags available.

What do you like most about being an artist?

I think artists work very, very hard for almost none or very little recognition. I guess the best part of being an artist is to get something back from the audience, a compliment, a “WOW”, or a sale!!!

What is your greatest achievement as an artist to date?

Working and showing in an exhibition in Italy where some established artist have also worked.

What are your plans for the coming year?

I just hope I’ll lay some strong foundations for my art practice. Being able to make a living out of it would be great, being able to still enjoy it after all its frustrations even better! I also plan to study operatic singing!