"We are made up of only a distressing emptiness". An interview with Danny Ingrassia, artist, freelancer, and classical art passionate.
#Danny's art
I would like to start by touching the ground of your art. Could you tell me a little about your recent works and your art in general?
I was always interested in art. When I was a child, I spent a lot of time studying, looking into, and learning about art and the artistic world within it. But art has become my job and source of income for two years and it still is.
I base my art on a horror vision of our world. Quiet, simple room, an old painting, a street of an ordinary day – I believe everything can become something dark. I like to transform the everyday world surrounding us using my artistic vision.
The inexpressiveness of my characters is a fundamental concept. I like to represent people without decorations, without colours, without words. Without all this, we are made up of only a distressing emptiness.
Many of my works represent ghosts, empty beings from everything they had when they were alive. No beyond, no heaven or hell, just the ordinary daily life, but without that frame called “life”.
#dark art
“Dark Art” is an art movement that is often described as disturbing or scary by its nature. In a few lines, can you describe what dark art means to you?
Art, in all its forms, manages to show and share the human imagination. Everything you can’t see in the real world, but you can portray with your imagination – you can present with art.
Dark art is just a branch of the art tree, so I create it to show the world that lives in my imagination. It means giving the viewer not only fear and restlessness, but often also sadness, loneliness, melancholy, and all the other emotions that this branch (and my imagination) holds. Dark art is all of this, and for me, it is essential to pass it on to the world.
#inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci
In your art you refer to the works of Leonardo da Vinci, for example the painting “Lady with an Ermine”. What is the reason for this inspiration?
Before doing dark auctions, I studied and practiced classical art. I respect and adore Leonardo da Vinci’s art and the work of other artists of that period. The works that I have crippled are just a tribute to those artists and somehow I think this fusion of art from the past and my art is really fascinating.
#more inspirations
What are your other inspirations?
My inspirations are constantly evolving, cinema first and foremost. I also love visiting old cities and listening to the beyond interesting folk stories told by senior people (with a passion)! I do like paranormal family stories as well. In Sicily, my homeland, almost every family tells this kind of story, and I like to inspire myself with them and paint them in my works.
#OFUTURE zone
Your recent work has been shown on OFUTURE.zone, a digital gallery of modern art. As cooperation with OFUTURE.zone does not require commitment from artists, because the gallery’s Team provides everything and seeks out only exceptional artists, I imagine it was a smooth process, but can you tell us how and why your collaboration with OFUTURE.zone started?
When it comes to OFUTURE.zone, it was actually simple. I got in touch with the team via email. OFUTURE.zone said they appreciated my work, and I have received a proposition of cooperation with them. Of course, I said yes. I find it difficult not to get in touch or ignore people who appreciate my work.
#why NFT
So, when we talk about OFUTURE.zone, it is impossible not to mention NFT. Why did you decide to get involved in NFT in the first place?
I was fascinated by NFT from the very beginning. I think it’s no different from concrete auction exhibits. I believe NFTs are a more accessible way to do this digitally.
But as I said before, art, apart from being my passion, is also my job, a source of income. If NFT can allow me to sell more of my work and potentially reach a broader audience, I can’t see why I should not try to do it!
#NFT as future
Do you agree with the statement that NFT will be a significant part of the future of contemporary art?
Absolutely yes! As I have already mentioned, for me, it is a more accessible way to exhibit art digitally. However, it does not replace material, bodily, and physical art. But almost like everything else in this decade – movies, video games, etc., there should be a digital counterpart of it.
#impact of NFT
How do you think your work can resonate with or respond to the growing popularity of NFT? Do you think NFT will have an impact on your art creation process?
NFT, as I said before, makes everything more accessible, so knowing that creating a collection can make you grow a lot in the artistic field, then this pushes you to do it. It’s not nice to create a collection and keep it in the drawer, so thanks to NFT, I’m motivated to create new projects and make collections out of them.
interviewed by Monika Juskowiak from Contemporary Lynx
self-portrait by Danny Ingrassia