Meet Mariavittoria Campodonico, a multidisciplinary creative moving between illustration, graphic design, animation, and pretty much anything she can make with her hands. From recreating Prada boots with printed paper to making handmade gifts for people she loves, her work is driven by curiosity, experimentation, and a very personal approach to creativity. We caught up with Mariavittoria to talk about the pressure of defining yourself as an artist, why making things is her love language, the beauty of being "good enough", and her rather unexpected ambitions for the future.
1. Beyond Labels: Your work moves between illustration, graphic design, animation, and different forms of visual storytelling. Do you feel the need to define yourself as an artist, or is moving between disciplines exactly what keeps things interesting?
I would reserve the title of keeping things interesting to my big commitment issues. I've been through different Eras of trying to define who I am through what I do. At first I wanted to be this or that, the best at one thing… but I am way too lazy and messy for that. So I got very scared and sad for not being able to define what I do, and I escaped depression by starting not to care anymore and accept that things can be undefined, as long as they keep moving. Now this escamotage has also started to loosen up and it's finally time for me to enter the Real World era, where what I do is not enough to define what I am.
In general, Artist feels kind of like an empty word to me. It's cool when it's a title that others give you when you're dead, and not a word that everyone can apply to themselves as a synonym to "creative", which also sounds like everything and nothing. There are way too many things I need to define in my life, and already so many more rich words I could use to describe myself, but I'll keep it simple for now and say that I am a maker, and a lucky person.
2. The Art of Making: There's something very hands-on about your work, from experimenting with materials to creating physical objects. What draws you to the process of making things, and how much of your creativity comes from experimenting rather than having a clear idea from the start?
I think my brain has not been able to process a clear idea since maybe 2013. What I do is not original. And about the process, well… big up for empiricism. My props mostly come from real things that real parents do for their real kids on Pinterest, or from real things I can't get (money or feeling wise).
I started to make things at first as a solution to not being able to get them. I remember printing Prada boots, stitching the sheets to my legs and taking a picture. Or sewing little stars on a balaclava to make the one Ash had in Fantastic Mr. Fox for an ex boyfriend when I was 19. Or drawing an Apple Watch for my sister who wanted that as a gift for her 7th birthday… Fake it till you make it, they say. It's magic!
The most relevant thing I'd say is that I try to make everything personal. Actually not even, I have to make everything personal, otherwise I don't do anything at all. Making things is my love language. Making things and cleaning.
3. The Beauty of Imperfection: In a world where almost everything can be created digitally, what excites you about working with your hands? Do you think imperfections and unexpected results are part of what makes a piece interesting?
The thing that truly excites me about working with my hands is the fact that I can't be on my phone. I am ashamed of my screen time and that's why I try to fix it by making stuff. I am also almost blind so it's basically a medical prescription.
I think that what makes a piece imperfect is my laziness. My motto lately has been "good enough". I love perfect things, I actually am obsessed with perfection. I am an OCD Virgo. I just think it's not my thing to make it happen... Just to judge it…
4. What's Next? You've already explored so many different creative territories. Is there something you've always wanted to experiment with but haven't had the chance to yet? What's a dream project you'd love to bring to life?
I have always wanted to experiment peace. Since I am burning down all the chances to do so, I'll apply this question to the work field. I feel that something else I'd like to experiment is "being on the other side", work wise. Basically I want to be the person that finds cool people to do the job, and not the cool person who does the job. Even if that's fun! I would actually just love to do both. Most of my relatives can't believe how this can be an actual profession.
A dream project I'd love to bring to life is having a happy family. What's next? Hopefully one million euros?
Aldo Mazzilli
Curator
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