Gisela Gaffoglio was born in Buenos Aires in 1966 and from an early age she was involved with the art world in its many forms. Her artistic training came about spontaneously, with the first guidance of Marcos Aquistapace, and she went on to train with Duilio Pierri, Maggie de Koenisberg and Ariel Mlynarzewicz. Her prolific work has a style of its own, original, where expression, movement and colour take the lead.
When and why did you start painting?
I always loved painting and I come from a family where every kind of artistic expression was highly valued. But it was my daughter who pushed me into taking painting classes with her. I remember that when I laid down the vermilion background on my first canvas, I felt an immense joy.
How do you think a gallery and its artists should help each other?
By building a relationship of trust, closeness and exchange. Each one has to know how to put themselves in the other's shoes. The artist has to be responsible and respectful of the way things are done, and the gallery has to be more flexible and try to make things easier for the artists.
What advice would you give to artists who are starting to show their artwork?
To take great care with how it's presented. If it's in a physical space, to look after the lighting and the surroundings above all. In the digital world, the quality of the photos. I see photos that aren't even cropped and that really does the artwork a disservice.
How did you sell your first artwork? Is there one you feel a stronger connection with?
I sold my first artwork to a neighbour who straight away bought two more from me. It was her idea and it came as a complete surprise to me. I'm very fond of one of my artworks from my last show, Perfumes, the artwork is called La mirada de los otros.
What is art to you? What part does it play in your life? Do you make a living from art?
For me art is my way of understanding myself and finding my direction. It's also a path of evolution. Although I'm also a lawyer specialising in intellectual property, today my main income comes from art.
Lately we've seen a change of style in your work, you've moved from figuration, mostly female, to abstraction. Why is that?
It comes from a need to let myself flow while I paint, to have no constraints and to enjoy the process. And also to make some sense of my life. Each artwork is like a big dream, or a piece of theatre. There are loads of symbols in there that reflect my feelings, my fears and my longings.
What are your sources of inspiration? Do you identify with any other artist?
Klimt influenced me enormously with his poetry, Van Gogh with his strength, Schiele with his eroticism and Mlynarzewich with his gesture.
In your creative process, is there any habit, practice or quirk you can share with us?
I love painting outdoors if I can. I really enjoy being in contact with nature. I also throw on anything at all. I've even worn an old maid's uniform that I found.
Have you had any exhibitions lately? What can you tell us? Do you have any project in mind?
I've just closed a very important show at the Centro Cultural Borges (Buenos Aires), where all the artworks were large format. Luckily it was extremely well received by the public and by other artists. Now I'm travelling around Italy and Greece looking for sensations and stimuli to pour into my new work. I have the idea of bringing a performance into my next show, but without painting losing its leading role.
Could you recommend us:
- Un artista: Monet.
- Una obra: Las tres edades de la mujer de Klimt.
- Un libro: La insoportable levedad del ser de Milan Kundera.
- Una película: La lección de piano.
Thank you very much, Gisela.
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