Lives in Between Sao Paulo and Milan
Website https://www.matheuschiaratti.com/
How do you describe your own art practice?
I think my practice is very non-linear, erratic… It takes on various guises along the way, from writing to photography, embroidery, canvas, ceramics. I am an artist very obsessed by things and I go about searching for everything, in an intuitive and disorderly way, in order to find the best way to say what I want to say. Lately, I have found a way to write my secrets and draw my little heroes mostly through ceramics. But in essence, I am a poet, who writes poetry with images and material media.

Pau Lavrado, Quadra, São Paulo, 2022, installation view. Ph. Bruno Leão
Which question or theme is central in your work?
I think that every artist in some way talks about death, and I would say that this is my main theme: the ultimate end. And I would also say that I am finding ways to leave traces of what is, for me, the experience of life. Of course, death finds nuances; sometimes it manifests itself through eroticism, at other times through the obsession with literary characters like Rimbaud (What a life! What a body of work! And what an end!). In short, that’s it. There is no escape.

Pérola (Abetarda Series), 2022, Glazed ceramic. Ph. Bruno Leão
What was your first experience with art?
My childhood references, were few, but important: Tarsila do Amaral, Karel Appel, Picasso… Characters and works that appeared in books and on the public television channel, TV Cultura, which for my generation had a dominant and central role.

Jambolão (Os Jardins de Pau Lavrado series), 2022, Oil on linen, Ph. Bruno Leão
What is your greatest source of inspiration?
Poetry.

Venus de Chacarita (N.), 2013-22, Analog photography. Ph. Bruno Leão
What do you need in order to create your work?
Some silence, poetry books, and a cigarette, nothing else. Besides, of course, the materials I use the most: linen, clay, canvas, oil paint, rolls of film, paper… And a good cup of Brazilian coffee.

Nahuel en Telo, 2013-22, Analog photography. Ph. Bruno Leão
What work or artist has most recently surprised you?
When I rediscovered, now at greater depth, Francesca Woodman’s photographs, I was fascinated. Especially one photo in particular “Turtle,” 1975-80. It is the ultimate in beauty, it is pure time, it is a weird ritual of human being, matter, nature, in such a seemingly simple image. She dresses as a sun-God who is dancing, robust. This picture is beautiful!

Pau Lavrado, Quadra, São Paulo, 2022, installation view. Ph. Bruno Leão