ARTIST * CHIARA MAZZOCCHI* ITALY

CHIARA MAZZOCCHI
Photographer, director-videoartist and performer based in Italy, born in Liguria coast, Italy, in1978. She lived and worked in Berlin seven years, since 2010 till February 2017. ChiaraMazzocchi’s artistic research is conceptually humanistic and she explores photography, video artand performance through inner processes. There are artists who are looking for new forms, newsubjects, new models, new spaces, she try to give shape to what the manipulation has madeunrecognizable: the human being. She capture her inner processes through self-portrayals,operating between transcendence, awareness, subconsciousness, awakening, precariousnessof existence induced by the imposed social system by using her SLR in manual mode andpressing the remote’s button during her self-reading process. The self portraits reflect uponaspects of her personal life, a dialogue with herself connecting and relating with space andnature, in which her presence almost constitutes a ritual symbology: a unique, authentic,quantum, present and unrepeatable moment, practiced almost as a rite: a constant conflicttowards the possibility to reach a presence, with an interior path defined by the photographicrectangle. Chiara is unable to see herself neither while taking the shot, neither while shootingherself; this method is used as a listening self therapy which allows her to connect to her interiorimage by eliminating expectations, breaking photographic rules whenever possible. Chiaraprefers to call her shots as “Listenings”, meaning projections, visions, vibrations, listeningphenomena guided by the right side of the brain. Chiara’s interests are also pointed towardshuman and social issues which involve the individual, such as human awareness, the insecurityof one’s existence, alienation, depersonalization, but also everyday human struggles trying to fitin a society which demands approval to established criteria. Chiara initially began herintrospection process for selfish reasons, as a way to survive through personal internal conflictsand inadequacy to the system. In 2010 during his stay in Berlin she decided to start makingsome of her shots public, encouraged by a Berlin curator who recognizes the power and thetruth of her research, inviting her to participate in the Berlin art fair “Berliner Kunstsalon” with the“Human Alienation” project; Human Alienation, will also be published in Italy through dailymagazine “La Repubblica” , “Vogue” and the most important Italian photography Magazine “Il Fotografo". Chiara also grants a copy of the project to “Brown University”, Providence, U.S.A. foreducational purposes and one permanently at the “CAM” Museum of Contemporary Art inNaples, Italy. Her research became a treatment exclusively for herself, towards herself. Chiarause Photography as a powerful medium not-verbal to explain humanity to mankind through selfanalysis and self awareness. Whether before she sustained that people prefer to look atthemselves through a mask, rather than interacting with their most truthful essence, she nowthinks there could be a glimmer, a possibility, an open channel, an exchange, an access point, areturn to one’s self and the true nature of a common thought, a vibration that could open andshake new levels of consciousness and non verbal communication among strangers, beyond people, personalities, culture, representation. As the world outside appears to turn bleak, photography is like a third voice.

The Dark Living, Selfportrait

What conCoscienza, Selfportrait

What is your inspirational source?

Inner processes, transcendence, awareness, subconsciousness, awakening, precariousness of
existence induced by the imposed social system, nature.

Flowers, Selfportrait

What are the most meaningful topics you try to represent in your work?

The mental room is secret. It's a place of silence and secretness. Nobody should notice what
you say, how you say it, and to who or what you are referring to. My silence and therefore my
photographs reach you only upon my will. For this reason photography is not seen, but rather
listened to. That's why I call my photographs “Listening”.
I capture my inner processes through self-portrayals, operating between transcendence,
awareness, subconsciousness, awakening, precariousness of existence induced by the imposed
social system. The self portraits reflect upon aspects of my personal inner life, a dialogue with
myself connecting and relating with space and nature, in which my presence almost constitutes
a ritual symbology: a unique, authentic, quantum, present and unrepeatable moment, practiced
almost as a rite: a constant conflict towards the possibility to reach a presence, with an interior
path defined by the photographic rectangle. My interests are also pointed towards human and
social issues which involve the individual, such as human awareness, the insecurity of one’s
existence, alienation, depersonalization, but also everyday human struggles trying to fit in a
society which demands approval to established criteria.

Waiting, Selfportrait

Human Alienation, Selfportrait

Wannsee Lake, Selfportrait

Who are the artists who encouraged you to create and why?

Pina Bausch, David Lynch, Marina Abramovic.
All of them for the same reason. The courage to express the true self. The courage to be honest,
honest in front of themselves, the courage to risk, the ability to create an inner emptiness, the
talent that is not reflected in the expectations, sincerity. The strength to move forward without
economic possibilities, the beauty of believing in their vision and in their process and never give
up. They had a very specific process in which they went about creating emotions.

Involution, Selfportrait

Cyclic Dream, Selfportrait

How did you find your own style to take a photography

Initially I began my introspection process for selfish reasons, as a way to survive through
personal internal conflicts and inadequacy to the system. In 2010 during my stay in Berlin Idecided to start making some of my shots public, encouraged by a Berlin curator who recognizesthe power and the truth of my research, inviting me to participate in the Berlin art fair “Berliner
Kunstsalon” with the “Human Alienation” project. I didn’t decide to be an artist or have a style.
My research became a treatment exclusively for myself, towards myself. I use Photography as a
powerful medium not-verbal to explain humanity to mankind through self analysis and self
awareness. Whether before I sustained that people prefer to look at themselves through a mask,
rather than interacting with their most truthful essence, now I think there could be a glimmer, a
possibility, an open channel, an exchange, an access point, a return to one’s self and the true
nature of a common thought, a vibration that could open and shake new levels of consciousness
and non verbal communication among strangers, beyond people, personalities, culture,
representation. As the world outside appears to turn bleak, photography is like a third voice.

Beelitz Heilstätten, Selfportrait

Beelitz Heilstätten, Selfportrait

Have you ever thought about combining photography with other media?

I explore photography, video art, performance art as a process, not as a result. Everything is
always mixed. I’m unable to see myself neither while I'm deciding my position, neither while I'm
shooting myself; this method is used by me as a listening self therapy which allow me to connect
to my interior image by eliminating expectations, breaking photographic rules whenever possible.
Other media make it possible my projections, visions, vibrations, listening phenomena guided by
the right side of the brain.

 

What do you think about the galleries that charge for exhibiting your work and also high percentages of commission for sale?

Artists are not an ATM and dignity is not a negotiable value.
I think that a gallery must have the possibility to manage everything without asking for money to
the artists except during the sales phase, but without exaggerating.
Otherwise I think it's a real swindle.

The Big Dream, Selfportrait

Gratitude, Selfportrait