Gioacchino Pontrelli on Painting, Memory, and the Artist's Vocation

In an interview with Artribune, Italian painter Gioacchino Pontrelli reflects on his artistic practice, the nature of painting, and the role of the artist today. Pontrelli describes painting as a vital, personal space where dreams, errors, and unexpected discoveries converge. He emphasizes the importance of lived experience in art, citing Werner Herzog's belief that cinema must be grounded in reality. His current exhibition "Non Chiedere" at Galleria Francesca Antonini in Rome underscores this commitment to translating life into painting without imposed meanings. Pontrelli discusses his use of color as a universal language, drawing inspiration from everyday observations like a blue scarf or his dog's fur. He references influences including Joseph Beuys, Katharina Grosse, Giorgione, and Félix González-Torres. Reflecting on the 1990s, Pontrelli recalls feeling peripheral in Rome while the art world shifted north, but now values the ability to continue painting. He defines an artist as someone who must answer only to their work and intellectual honesty, and sees failure as a precious opportunity for growth. The interview was conducted by Claudio Libero Pisano.