We hooked up with our friend and muralist Mattia Lullini in Nørrebro Skatepark, Copenhagen, where he tested one of our T-Shirts and we asked him a couple of questions.
Extension Khirkee Festival, 2012, New Delhi, India
Born in Bologna in the June 1985 Mattia Lullini now lives in Copenhagen together with a red haired girl. Drawing, painting, silkscreening and murals are the mediums he uses to create his universe of multiform and psychedelic animals. He loves the art of tribes, of the origins, of men and women from India, Oceania and Americas and in general the decorations. What he draws is the un-human magic and the animals dreaming.
Why do you draw/paint – make art – What is it that draws you?
I think that painting and drawing and all the projects related to that are the only thing that I could do every single day without feeling tired or feeling like needing any rest or break, I actually want to do them, they are what draws me!
What projects are you currently working on?
I’m finishing my first childern’s book. Which I have been working on for more than a year now. The book is a dreamy tale for kids and adults where I have made all the illustrations and the story and if everything goes as planned then I hope to see published soon.
Then I’m starting a new mixed-arts project called Colorful Mountain with the Italian musician Nico Pasquini. We’ll had our first show in Copenhagen last weekend where the first event was organized by Thaumatropical at Mayhem. More events are at hand you should come and check it out!
What is your main inspirations when creating your own artworks?
I really can’t tell. It’s something so much organic and subconscious that I can’t really explain what directly inspires me. Mostly it’s the nature which gives me the ideas, but it’s my feelings and life experiences that shapes them into my artworks.
What are your favorite art genres?
Abstract visual art and the traditional tribal arts of everywhere in the world.
Which artists are on your radar right now and why?
There are so many but the first ones I’d tell are probably the Californian artist Erin D. Garcia, the Australian Mark Walen and the incredible mural works by the Ukrainian duo Interesni Kazki.
Any particular art/books/series/movies you want to recommend?
“Starbook” by Ben Okri. This book is amazing, lyrical and magic. The writing of his African-British author is incredible and the story is more close to a dream than to any other fiction I’ve ever read.
Aside from painting, drawing and making illustrations, are there other things you’d like to do in your career?
Organizing art events and publishing art-related books, working on the other and incredibly necessary part of the coin.
What’s the last art exhibition/artwork you went to see that you really enjoyed?
“I saw a peacock with a fiery tail,” the latest book illustrated by the Indian artist Ramsingh Urveti from India’s Gond tribe. It’s just incredible.
Top 3 favorite places in Copenhagen?
Østre Anlæg, Mayhem and the Lakes.
Follow Mattia for more
https://www.instagram.com/mattialullini
