10 Questions with Betty Mariani

Betty Mariani is a self-taught painter who lives and works in Paris, France. Influenced by the cinema's universe, Mariani's paintings are realized in the split-screen' s form. A narrative technique use in audiovisual productions, consisting of dividing a screen into several parts for the simultaneous presentation of several scenes.

Her graphic poster paintings refer to massive publication images on the internet, social networks, and television screens. Through this staging process, the young artist questions our relationship to the image, to notions of intimacy and identity, in a world where digital information and social networks reign supreme. Thus Betty Mariani's paintings easily reflect the spirit of our time, which she finds fragmented and connected, dispersed but rallied. Mariani's inspiration comes from the punk culture of the 70s, cinema, literature, pop art, and street art.

www.bettymariani.com

ARTIST STATEMENT

“One of my greatest inspiration for my work comes from cinema, and everything that interacts with that world: music, image, framing, lighting, editing, storyboarding. Each frame represents an emotion, a moment, a person, an atmosphere, and symbolism, which surprised me.

The split-screen method is a trick that I use in my works for the narration and structure of a painting—a complementary method inspired by the cinema to give several possible readings of a work. Presenting the paintings as posters result from my fascination for Andy Warhol and his work on the image. Today, the internet and social networks are real serigraphy machines that will multiply on different websites, accounts, profiles, and images. It is, therefore, better to prepare the canvases directly for their own exploitation.”

SPLEEN SCREEN, Oil & gouache painting, 90x70cm, 2020, Betty Mariani©

INTERVIEW

Why are you an artist, and when did you first become one?

I am not very comfortable with the term artist. I consider myself more as a painter. I think that one becomes an artist from the moment when selling the work. So, the first time I sold one of my paintings, I guess I became one. Why am I a painter? Because it's the only thing, I know how to do well. I hope! I wanted to have paintings that looked like me, from an emotional, visual, and representative perspective. I try to be as honest and transparent as possible in my approach, inspirations, and the images I want to give to the world. And I hope that the interested people will understand this.

Could you tell us a little more about your background and how did you begin making Art?

I was born and grew up in the suburbs of Paris, where I also studied. I'm self-taught. I didn't go to art school. It's not very original, but the first approach I had with the art world was when I was a child. I took part in drawing and painting workshops, initially with children and then with adults, because of my ease at the time. Then I stopped completely. I picked up my brushes at school, and I continued in my corner. After graduation, I went to psychology college, and it was during my degree that I realized that I wanted to devote myself to Art. For about five years now, I've been living for this. It is my driving force.

BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN, gouache and oil painting, 130X90cm, 2020, Betty Mariani©

Can you tell our readers what experience of your life is reflected in your works of Art?

The working-class world I grew up in, I guess. I come from a working-class family, and I'm proud of that, that's what I am. When you look closely, there are only references to that. The characters portrayed are often members of my family, my friends, or myself and the places evoked, the objects, themes, symbols, events, etc...

Where do you find inspiration? And how do you engage with your network?

I find inspiration in my other passions and the course of my research. For example, music is something important in my family. I was born with Metallica in my ears! All the commercial exploitation around a band or an artist interests me. Hence the poster aspect of my paintings. Of course, cinema is one of my inspirations and different artistic currents such as Pop Art, Street Art, or Impressionism.

I try to be as honest as possible in what I want to show concerning my social networks. Above all, to remain me. Social networks are powerful tools that you have to know how to use efficiently. And when you understand how to use them, they offer you meetings, projects, and ideas. It's a very interesting universe and means of communication that has a very particular impact on Art.

How long did it take to develop your own techniques?

A lot of time, and I still work on it today. My technique is constantly evolving. I work in a somewhat anarchic way, I must say. It's a lot of work, determination, and dedication too. I don't want to rest on my laurels and mechanically apply a technique that works. I would be too afraid of getting bored after a while. It's important to evolve your practice with your desires, time, or environment to get ideas and inspirations that will elevate your creativity even more!

What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

I pay much more attention to the composition than anything else. The most important thing is the painting's structure and how the frames represented will interact with each other. This is what I believe will give the visual power of the painting to the viewer. I go through a lot of sketches and drawings to find the perfect cut-out. I am very interested in framing in film and photography to capture the points of strength and how our eye adapts to reading an image.

What are you trying to communicate with your Art?

Confidence. Assertiveness. Be proud of yourself. I want people who look at my paintings to become actors in their own film, in their own lives, and not just stand there being the secondary character. Take control, you know!

How do you keep yourself up to date with the latest digital trends and technologies that have today a significant impact on the art world?

There is no real method. I believe that we are, despite ourselves, aware of the latest technological trends. We are all in this wave of innovation and discovery. We have to live with our time. Artists adapt, galleries, museums, collectors, etc. We have to make the most of it to make our Art come alive, share it, enhance it, make it discoverable to the greatest number of people. We have to be open to change and novelty.

What is the most challenging part about being an artist during pandemic times?

I would say to be completely, or almost completely, on break.

Usually, I think you have to be always on the move, always on the lookout, showing that you're there and ready to fight, especially in an environment like the art world, where if you don't move, you are forgotten. So being paralyzed in your projects is the most challenging thing for me.

Any film director, producer, or actor you dream of meeting in person? Why?

I would love to meet the directors, Wes Anderson or Jim Jarmusch. I'm utterly obsessed with their films! I love the slow and contemplative side of Jarmusch's films. His nocturnal, rock n roll, and poetic universe inspires me enormously. As for Wes Anderson, each frame of his films is like a painting. His work with the frame, the colors, and the details to create a whole atmosphere or universe is fascinating. It's almost magical! For an actor, without hesitation, Anthony Hopkins. I find him fascinating. And besides being an excellent actor, he is also a very good painter! What could be perfect!

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