David Lynch's 'Essere artisti' Explores Dreams, Reality, and Artistic Practice

A new book, 'Essere artisti' (Being Artists), compiles David Lynch's reflections on his multifaceted artistic practice, drawn from interviews with filmmaker and journalist Chris Rodley. Published by il Saggiatore in Milan in 2023, the 80-page volume features a refined graphic design with chessboard motifs recurring throughout. Lynch discusses the relationship between reality and fiction, emphasizing dreams as the common thread across his work in cinema, painting, and music. He argues that images and sounds can express what words cannot, citing the inadequacy of language to capture the essence of his films. The book includes references to writer Barry Gifford, author of 'Wild at Heart' and co-writer of 'Lost Highway,' and touches on Lynch's childhood, his approach to success, and the role of intuition and ideas in artistic creation. Lynch describes cinema as a 'magical medium' and painting as a space for chance events and strangeness. The volume is part of a series of newsletters by Artribune, which also covers art market, urban regeneration, and cultural tourism.