CHIT-CHAT-EAU Episode No. 9: Marcantonio Brandolini D’Adda, Artist
Welcome to CHIT-CHAT-EAU: Chateau Orlando's series of interviews hosted by our Co-Founder and Creative Director Luke Edward Hall.
Our ninth guest is Marcantonio Brandolini D'Adda. Since the beginning of his artistic practice in 2017, Brandolini D'Adda has chosen glass as his medium, developing an innovative technique that rolls molten clear glass over raw cotissi to create instinctive, organically shaped works. Over the years, his sculptures have been presented in major group shows in Venice, Murano and Milan and displayed internationally in London and New York.
Tell us - what is a typical day in Venice like for you?
Walking around 10km per day within 50 metres radius, up and down forward backward, speaking, smiling, screaming (of joy). This is during workdays as all our work locations are within 50 metres, at the moment. During free time walking around 10km per day within a 10 km strip in the Lido, at least if it’s not a windy day.
Glass is by its nature a fragile, ethereal material. What do you love about the process of working with it?
Actually, I’m not that passionate about glass, but what I like about it is the importance of instinct and improvisation. No time to think about how to make a pretty shape: the material just gives you the time to be direct and thoughtless.
A book that has changed your life?
No book has changed my life but many have given me comfort, such as Dove by Lee Graham – it’s comforting to know that a sixteen years old kid, sailed off the coast of California by himself and came back after years and moved in the mountains. Maybe one day.
What is your greatest extravagance?
I’ve just googled the meaning of ‘extravagance.’ If the meaning is “lack of restraint in spending money or using resources,” then personally none. However, in our studio we are the best at spending money without restraint – unfortunately. I am – and we are – obsessed with details. We are about to spend more than 5,000 euros to make full hand made wheels (hand made steel rim + custom rubber) for my office chair. If we include many other finishes, the cost of production of the chair will be probably around 25k. The more it cost the more satisfied we are.
Glassmaking is synonymous with Venice, but the work you do is always forward thinking, and you've worked on some unexpected and highly intriguing creative endeavours. How do you balance past, present and future?
The past is in my subconscious, therefore I’m not sure how it is connected to my present and future. The present becomes immediately nostalgic and nostalgia is the most basic word in our dictionary. The future is everything when you have to be creative.
Your last supper on the planet?
Naked with my girlfriend eating Mango with my hands on a really comfortable sofa made in thick unrefined leather on a beach looking at our boat and our best friend, a dolphin, smiling at us.
Tell us about your upcoming projects.
We’re working on a magazine that will give an overview of everything we do.
