Cecilia Prandi - First Place Winner in Visions of Form and Space

Cecilia Prandi piece “Cordon Umbilical” won First Place in our Visions of Form Space juried exhibition. We caught up with Cecilia and asked them a few questions about their art practice, and background.

- What is the meaning behind your winning piece title, "Cordon Umbilical"?

Behind my painting there’s no meaning related to the name itself. The meaning for me is in the emotions that I have to evoke in order to begin the creative process. Sometimes it’s just a selection from a book, words that trigger images or feelings, sometimes my surrounding, my own experiences, or my life. I find abstract art so personal and intimate, for me it’s very hard to open up and explain the piece, but on the other hand I feel that the viewers want an explanation that there’s a need to find the logic behind those shapes or colors, there’s a need to understand. For me the need resides in the cathartic process and the artistic eye to make the elements work together.

- Does your work have a typical theme among all the pieces you create within your practice?

There is no typical theme among all my pieces, when I want to work with a particular theme that inspires me, I create a series of paintings related to that. Sometimes a couple at the same time just to go deeper and explore something that might come up unintentionally.

- What inspired you to become an artist and could you explain a little about yourself and your background?

I grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina within an Italian heritage family and so the love for art. Both of my grandparents were artists, my grandpa worked in the Venetian mosaic technique, he was a classical painter, he was also an educator, my grandma an Impressionist type of painter, so I was exposed to all kind of art expression from a very early age. I attended the same schools as my grandparents did. I studied Fine Arts and then Stage Design. After finishing my formal education, I worked in my practice and continued expanding my learning in other fields like photography, and sculpture. Then I met my husband and we moved to the States. We were living in different parts of the country and in 2017 we relocated in the Saint Louis area, we love the city vibe, the architecture, the mix of culture, and the music.

- Your winning piece has a unique canvas shape could you explain why you choose to make this unique shape for your painting?

I think that the shape of the canvas is mostly related to my background as a stage designer, my interested in the concept of three-dimensional space, and the idea of expressing movement within the 2d. The relationships between lines shapes planes the emptiness and the full. As a part of the creative process I make the canvases in specific dimensions and then I mount the fabric.

- What is your favorite material to us to make art?

I use acrylics on raw canvas. I always add other elements to create interest and some volume. Nowadays I’m working on a new series of paintings exploring adding more significant volume and the interaction in the format of a traditional type of piece.

- What inspires you?

I would say that my inspiration comes from my life ,my experiences, and my surroundings.

- If you could meet any artist living or dead who would it be?

If I could meet an artist, it would be Marina Abramovic’, she is a conceptual and performance artist, and from my perspective she has always been ahead of her time. I also admired all the artists that belong to the “School of New York” such a prolific time in the American art history timeline, but mostly those talented women artists who were part of that movement and had to struggle to be recognized in a world of men. Another fave is Julie Taymor, who was such a talented American director and writer. Many years ago I had the possibility to see my very first play at Broadway “The Lion king”, at that time it really blew my mind. This year my heart was full when I shared the same experience with my two daughters. They appreciated every single aspect of the play. This special year celebrating the Picasso’s Legacy…..and list goes on.