GOLD
Moved to Milano in January.
Wrote to Marcello Maloberti on Facebook
sent cv
sent portfolio
had lunch together
became his assistant.
Previously featured in vice versa, Italian Pavilion at the 55th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia (2013) & teaching Visual Arts at BA Painting and Visual Arts at NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano.
Guidelines for being Marcello's assistant at NABA:
Preciso, onesto, energetico
Al suo posto elegante ma non troppo capelli corti
Profumato
Di miele e mele
E limoni di sicilia
Then, wrote course programme, managed schedule of classes, reviewed students' portfolios, attended exams and final dissertations.
However, before starting my new job as teaching assistant I had to face the second step of my applications to the MFA in London on whom I worked so much last year. In fact, both of the colleges I applied for called me for the admission interview.
In late February I flew to London and attended the interview at the Slade School. Thirty minutes. That moment was one of the most prestigious ones on my academic career. It felt so hard to discuss my works with Slade teachers but, for sure, it was a honour for me to be shortlisted for this year admission interviews.
Back to Milano, spring was not begun yet. NABA was, instead.
Goldsmiths interview had been scheduled.
After the interview, Slade informed me that my application process was unsuccessful. On the contrary, the Skype interview I had with Goldsmiths went well and they offered me an unconditional offer to study at the MFA Fine Art!!! "Congratulations!" there was written on the admission letter I received.
Well, yeah, fine, but… I did not know what to do anymore. I was very happy with my job in Milano. Working close to Marcello was so much inspirational. In Milano I felt at home, I was based and working in Italy finally, and just less than a hour far from my beloved hometown. Also, I love to speak Italian much more than speaking English. Food is excellent, so is weather. In mid-April I was still not sure on what future to choose for myself. My mind was like Milano VS. London NABA VS. Goldsmiths Italy VS. England warm vs cold pasta vs tuna sandwich pizza vs baked potato.
But then, as soon as I told it to Marcello, all the fog in my mind started to vanish. And the warmest applause followed. My question: Should I accept their offer? Marcello's answer: They chose you. Unconditional offer accepted.
Since the moment I officially accepted Goldsmiths offer, Marcello started spreading the word and everything became much more intense than before. And my time in Milano became even more golden. They have been six very engaging months of hard work. Learned tons of new things. Buckets of new words. Met hundreds of brilliant people. Every single student at NABA included. Selvatici. Metal. Sexy.
Guest lecturers we invited at our classes:
Ludovica Carbotta
Elena Bordignon
Luca Pozzi
Nicola Trezzi
Chiara Vecchiarelli
Francesco Cavaliere
Giovanna Silva
Alessandro Agudio
Colleagues & others I worked with (in order of appearance):
Marco Bongiorni
Adrian Paci
Yuri Ancarani
Gabriele Sassone
Andris Brinkmanis
Marco Scotini
Valentina Sansone
Raffaella Cortese
Barbara Casavecchia
Caterina Iaquinta
Bartolomeo Pietromarchi
Lara Favaretto
Stefano Boccalini
Giovanni De Lazzari
Andrea Sala
Elvira Vannini
Marinella Senatore
It is hard to define the pleasure I had meeting and working with them. In late May, during an intense week of openings, I realized how far I had gone since when I had moved to Milano. And while time was flying so fast my feet were literally burning.
Then, June came. The final show was set up. We were all covered in gold.
Cali Gold Rush @ Lucie Fontaine, Milano 23 June - 18 July 2014
♞ CALI GOLD RUSH on Art * Texts * Pics !!!
Cuori Infranti
And I had walked so fast and kept myself so busy that suddenly I could already see the end of my rush. But actually, there was not only an end. There were four, and nothing would have made me happier.
The morning right after CGR opening we all meet again at Arti Visive III exam w/ Marcello & Caterina ~ we were still sweating gold from our veins. That was a real golden end for our gold rush - 24 Jun
As sparkling as CGR day after it was also the graduation day, when the celebration of a golden saguaro cactus kept us busy for a whole day ⚡⚡ - 8 Jul
At NABA open day things were already moving on and the only thing I wanted to do was staying there as much as I could, breathing NABA till late night - 10 Jul
Then, even CGR came to its FINALE - 20 Jul
Ciao. Parto per due anni.
Cuori d'oro
Clara Holt & Simo Scimiaz @ casa Scimiatz - Holt ♥
Memories are made of gold come i nostri cuori
2014.01 - Trips
Feb 23-25 London - Attended interview at Slade School of Fine Art UCL
Jul 9 Como - Fondazione Antonio Ratti w/ Tacita Dean
Aug 7-9 Forte Marghera (VE) - Printmaking Workshop by Tettina
2014.01 - Best Exhibitions in Milano
Giorgio Andreotta Calò level @ Peephole - Jan 29
Antoine Catala Heavy Words @ Peephole - May 22
Thomas Grunfeld & Gary Hume IRON & DIAMONDS @ Massimo De Carlo - May 27
Trisha Baga FREE INTERNET @ Giò Marconi - Jun 5
2014.01 - Best Film watched so far this year
Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke
2014.01 - Best moments in Milano!
Feb 5 - First lunch with Marcello!! New life mode: Maccarone
Feb 13 - Had a pizza with Gasconade crew
Feb 25 - Interview at Slade School of Fine Art UCL in London!!!
Mar 1 - Goldsmiths open day in Milano. Met Camilla!
Mar 10 - NABA first class at third year BA Painting and Visual Arts!!
Mar 12 - Went to Christie's at Palazzo Clerici & Johanna Viprey/ISR Milano saga began!
Mar 21 - (senza titolo) (2000) by Tino Sehgal at La Triennale di Milano!
April - Received an unconditional offer for MFA Fine Art at Goldsmiths. Accepted.
May 13 - Met and had a chat with Luca Pozzi at Markus Schinwald's Il dissoluto punito, La Triennale di Milano!
May 28 - MARMELLATE lecture by Marcello Maloberti w/ Fondazione Ratti @ piattaforma galleggiante per expo / alzaia naviglio grande ~ Goldsmiths confirmed!!!
Jun 23 - Cali Gold Rush @ Lucie Fontaine ~ opening *:･ﾟ✧
Jun 24 - Hugo Scibetta + Luca Pozzi @ VIR
Aug 13 - Been offered a place at Frieze Art Fair for the third year in a row. Declined
Aug 15 - Flash Art editor and director Giancarlo Politi says: Goldsmiths is excellent.
Ciao ciao Milano. Sono stato felice :D
Final : Next time… A new beginning!
Living in Milano was wonderful. There I spent a golden spring and a hot summer. But now that the Sun slowly begins to set earlier and earlier I am in the mood to go back home for a bit. And finally, I feel ready to live golden sunsets in New Cross. Because I've done it. I will study at Goldsmiths, where Damien Hirst did. I've done it.
Things happened and much more have to come!
"Success is the best revenge."
- Kanye West
sm
AND NOW
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THE 2014 GOLDEN SCIMIAZ COMPILATION
