Humble Beginnings:
Beauty is Truth for Fabio Panichi
By: Kristie Langone
Fabio Panichi is a rare flower like the orchid: he is an artist without an ego. He doesn’t want to be famous. He wants to be understood. Panichi’s idea of fulfillment is the ability to openly explore the recesses of his mind without fear of the consequences. His idea of success is to translate with his art.
At the age of 19, Panichi is discovering life through his work – and he is adamant about keeping that discovery objective. Understanding that moments are fleeting, Panichi tells us he is compelled to capture them — like a flower before it wilts. Sharing qualities of Romantic poet, he connects to his natural surroundings and believes in the power of it. His photography is fierce yet sentimental; its grounded but surreal.
Fabio uses Flickr, a popular photography networking web site, to meet other artists who are reaching boundaries with their art. A notable series that sprung from the new connections was Panichi’s SeVen Deadly Sins Series. Panichi interprets each sin in a stunning, conceptual photograph.
Fabio Panichi’s answers to our following questions about art and what it means to him can’t help but bring about a smile. Some will say he hasn’t been tainted yet – and others will congratulate him for his fearless journey toward the unfettered self.
Fabio Panichi Interview
What was it like growing up in Italy? How have your physical surroundings influenced your work?
Well, growing up in Italy has been great (now my patriotism’ll jump out, hehe ). I love my country, the mountains, the sea, the beautiful cities. And since I was a child, I have had the luck to be able to travel.
When I was a kid, I was amazed by the churches, little villages, museums and just art everywhere. I remember the first time I went to Venice as a child and I felt like I had Stendhal syndrome. With a big smile on my face I thought, “ I want to live here and be an artist.”
Do I live in Venice now? No, I live in Teramo where I was born. It’s a nice little town dipped in between sea and mountains with local ancient traditions, and I think it’s a place where you can find a great human connection. Maybe this also helped me find my sensibilities as an artist. But sometimes I ask myself, “if I had lived in a big city where I can’t run every day in a cornfield when the sun is setting, would I be the same? But this question will never have any answer.
What sparked your interest in photography?
I was always impressed and afraid about the passing of time, about how a beautiful event dies too soon. So since I was child, I started taking photos of everything I found beautiful around me. If you take a shot of a pink flower, some how it never dies. The sun could burn it, but it’s still alive in the shot, but above all, in your mind, that looking at the shot immortalizes it. If you close your eyes, you can smell the perfume, you can touch the petals, and you can admire the color.
Yes, I’m sure that this sparked my love for photography. Then I discovered something that cannot be shot directly. These are emotions. You can feel anger, you can feel angst… but, what’s angst? Is it a dark river flowing into your heart? Is it a deep fog hiding your eyes? Everyone, I think, feels these sensations in a different way and I’m sure that everyone feels his emotions not as an emotion itself but as something vital that happens in his soul. I just represent mine.
Being an up-and-coming artist, what's your advice to similar artists around the globe? i.e. what have you learned about the biz/art.
I’m just starting my first artistic experiences and sure I’m not a “made-man” yet, but I understand that Art needs patience, constancy, straight-forwardness, bravery and…luck. But no one must think or want to become a great and famous artist soon, or he will start making what people like more. That’s not art. Art is painting, taking photos, sculpting first for ourselves, for our souls.
Just for thinking : I’ve done this! And staying there observing our creations. Art is freeing our emotions. Then, as I wrote, patience is needed. But the day in which someone will find you and your art will sure arrive. And we’re lucky to have the great help of internet, where we can show our works. If you’re valid, you’ll have your satisfactions.
What's your greatest attribute as an artist--and what's your greatest flaw as one?
Mmm, my greatest attribute as an artist could be… “pure”. This means that I’ve always done what I felt like doing, and not what people loves more. The greatest flaw. Probably that I’m very touchy. But I’d like to explain why. I feel so bad if someone says “I can’t understand your work”. But not because my work has to be wonderful, but because I put everything in it, all my straights to try to represent my sensations. So I ask myself: is he closed-hearted, or is it my fault?
Who are your artistic forefathers?
I had not a “teacher” or a “guide” who accompanied me in the art-world. It’s something that was born into myself and day-by-day is growing up. But, studying at school, I found a great artist that I love who has influenced a little of my imagery: Caravaggio, for his amazing dark atmospheres where light is a Queen.
Have you attended any art institutions to further your studies?
No, I didn’t attend any art institution but I’d love to do so. After primary school, I attended the Gymnasium ( Liceo Classico Melchiorre Delfico ) where I graduated with the point of 100/100 cum laude. Now I’m starting my university studies : Sciences of Artistic and Multimedia Communication
Favorite movie?
Arg, I hate this kind of questions. hehe. I can’t find something favorite. Because after some months, I get bored with it. But if I have to choose, I can say that I love the Burton’s Atmospheres, and that I truly love Sister Act because it makes me laugh a lot—and because I love the gospel.
If you could say one thing to the world...?
“please, peace” …… ehhe no no I’m joking. I’d like to say that life is beautiful, so let’s start living! Truly living! Go around and see the world, meet people, smell perfumes, admire the sun, the clouds, feel cold, feel hot, touch the grass, love, run, think…. LIVE!
Give us a statement on your SeVen Deadly Sins Series.
Challenging! Truly challenging. A year ago Nouk Baudrot and I had this idea to open a group on Flickr where, once a week, we had to represent the seven deadly sins. That was an amazing experience.
You're a genius at conceptualizing. How do you go about illustrating human emotions?
As I said, I represent what I feel and what I think is happening in my soul. I love to think of ourselves as little worlds where emotions are alive elements that fight, die, live, and love. I feel that in our souls are hills, mountains, rivers and oceans, flowers, animals, light, darkness.. and we’re the god of this world. We can take the ocean water and cry; we burn wood and we get angry; we run among roses and we fall in love. I just try to represent this magic world that everyone has inside.
