Here at Slowdown Studio we love collaborating with emerging and established artists from across the globe. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Antony Squizzato, the artist behind the new Pierre Throw Blanket. Antony is a France-based artist who makes art about identity getting fragmented by screens and networks.
Who do you think is the most exciting emerging creative in your city?
To be honest, I don't find anything particularly exciting and inspiring at the moment in
Clermont-Ferrand where I have lived for 30 years. Perhaps it's weariness, or the discourse of cultural institutions that often ends in disappointment. What motivates me today are simpler things: everyday details, a chance encounter, an unexpectedly discovered place, or simply diving into my subconscious and finding a new idea there. A little spark can make my day.
Where are your favourite places to go in your city?
At one point, I was heavily collecting comic books, so I would often visit my favorite
local bookseller. I also enjoy going to Homiz Pizzeria with my family and visiting two
or three galleries where I appreciate the owners and the artists they exhibit. Over
time, the noise and bustle of the city are no longer my priority. I prefer wide open
spaces. I also enjoy going to a small municipal cinema called 'le Gergovie' by myself,
when the theater is practically deserted. There isn't even a popcorn machine :)
What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself when you were starting out in art?
I would tell him to always keep learning new things and to be more curious than ever.
And also to gradually create the creative space he dreams of. Same advice for today.
What are you listening to in your studio at the moment?
I spent years creating playlists and keeping up with music news by reading
specialized magazines or blogs. Now, the stream of music being produced feels too
vast, and I prefer to devote my energy to the act of painting rather than to this
curation. I listen to the radio while I work. Most often FIP, a French music-only radio
station, and France Culture.
What inspired your design for this latest blanket design?
As with most of my paintings, I create them almost automatically, using a visual grammar
that is deeply personal to me. I try to dive into a piece very spontaneously, because
afterwards I tend to want to control everything—too much. Aside from that, my inspirations are highly diverse and varied; I think this shows in my work, and it would take pages here to detail them all.
What's your favorite way to slow down?
My partner would say that I never manage to do it and that I should go get tested for ADHD :) But otherwise, a good walk in the rain around Lac de Servières might do the trick. I also love feeling the sheer power of nature: huge waves, a thunderstorm, a fierce wind. I like feeling that we are nothing. It soothes me.
What's the most memorable book you've read in the last few years?
A book called Jacky by Anthony Passeron. It deals with many themes that are close to my
heart: nostalgia, family, the 80s/90s, and disillusionment. Last year, I also discovered a
young author I really appreciate, Édouard Louis, who writes about family relationships and
social mobility. When I like an author or a filmmaker, I compulsively devour their entire body of work.
What has been the happiest/most rewarding moment of your art career?
I can't seem to rank them by 'satisfaction'. There have been some great exhibitions in
beautiful or well-known venues. I am also lucky enough to sell my paintings very regularly,
which is rewarding. For a long time, I had a kind of imposter syndrome, which I think
stemmed from my non-academic background. Now, what I truly appreciate is conversing
with people who tell me about how they live with one of my paintings. Seeing that it takes on a life of its own, its own story, far from my studio.
How does living in your city influence your work? Is there anything about your city that has defined how or what you create?
Not really when it comes to the paintings. Especially since I don't paint specific landscapes, aside from brutalist buildings that aren't located in my city. However, I have painted around ten murals in my city, which allowed me to meet people and, in a way, interact with some of the local population. It's something I would like to do more of again in the future.
What are you most excited/looking forward to this year?
Developing new series and experimenting with new techniques. A new collaboration with an Aubusson tapestry workshop. And of course, seeing my Slowdown blanket!
Instagram: @squizzato
Website: https://squizzato.com
