Allow me to introduce to you the latest gem in our search for fantastic filthery: one Mr Matteo Alfonsi, artist and creator of bookshelf bounty Digital Bondage 1.0, flyer artist for Club Rub and occasional exhibitor for London's biggest alt. fetish fun brigade, Club Antichrist.
Alfonsi's digital art has also got him membership to the Sexy Art Gallery, which is currently peddling it's wares from the third floor of the Erotic Museum in Amsterdam's Red Light District and also from it's website that, in it's own words, 'focuses on representing both emerging and recognized artists and priding itself on exposing cutting-edge sexy art'.
Born in Rome and currently living in Paris, Matteo's visual treasures have appeared in various international exhibitions, including selection for 2009's The Dirty Show in Detroit (if you're reaching for Google – it's one of the biggest erotic art exhibitions in the world), and not surprisingly, because his enticing world of pin-ups, latex, tattoos and titties (and oh my, the titties!) makes for some seriously sexy viewing.
SinZine caught up with the man himself to discuss going digital, thoughts on fetish, and the artists we should be watching...
So, Matteo, how did your art develop to where it is now?
I haven't had any special training, I've just had a passion about creating since I was a child and I've always done it... but I studied architecture at university and that provided me with all the tools I needed for what I am doing now. I started with ink on paper - since I didn't have any training in the techniques of painting, ink felt more natural to me. But it was limiting, and a limit I wanted to overcome, so with the support of some friends, I finally approached the canvas - honestly without great results. The real improvement came when I moved on to digital media during my studies. They opened me up to new possibilities and soon I started experimenting with them within my artworks.
Your current work often involves a kinky twist...
Honestly I find the fetish aesthetic very inspiring, it enables several interpretations. It can involve concepts like violence, submission, lust, but it's also very creative, and I find it deeply connected to digital media in the way it adopts plastic clothes and artificial prosthesis etc. It's a concept I always wanted to develop further...
Ok, so all the ball gags, bondage and boobs - does it often provoke a reaction of shock?
No, I've never had any problems about it, and it's a pity actually... I'm probably not transgressive enough... I'll have to work on it...
All your artwork is really exciting, but do you have a favourite piece?
I get easily bored with my stuff but I'd say my most recent artworks are, at the moment, the ones I like the most. I'm talking about the Martyrs series, a project that is going to be displayed in a collective exhibition from the 11th - 20th November, at the Elevator Gallery in London. Martyrdom involves some sadistic ideas that fit very well within a fetish aesthetic, so I loved it as a concept immediately. I'm also really enjoying the weird details that I keep discovering from the lives of the Saints, as these can be revisited in an interesting new way. Over all it permits me a very symbolic approach which is very inspiring.
You've been a part of both solo and joint exhibitions in quite a few countries now - how do you hook them up? And any tips for first time exhibitors?
Sometimes I approach the organisers, sometimes they contact me. There isn't any standard process really - the only tip I could give is to avoid galleries that ask you for too much money! Unfortunately there is always something that goes wrong at the very last minute when you are setting up an exhibition; you arrive and you discover that it is forbidden to dig nails into the walls or the light is not sufficient. I also had one picture stolen from a recent exhibition (which was in quite a posh place in Rome), but it's all part of the game.
Your series “The Triumph of the Will” was inspired by Leni Riefenstahl's film. What else inspires you to create?
Filmography is probably the main field I take inspiration from. But I also like getting some concepts from history, fairytales and especially from the people I meet, portraits are definitely my favourite subject.
So any new artists tickling your bal... er, fancy, at the moment?
Ray Caesar, Nathalie Shaw and Saturno Butto are some of my favourites. I deeply love their imagination and the fetish elements they populate their artworks with; especially Butto, his very traditional technique make him a kind of fetish Caravaggio, and that's just amazing! I recently discovered the work of Espira and I was stunned by his symbolism. I'm also loving the illustrations of Serge Birault and I'd really like to steal some of his skills...
So, we think Matteo's work is Sin-ply fantastic, but we know that you, dear readers, are hardly the sort that bend over and take opinion, so have a snoop around matteoalfonsi.blogspot.com, and if you are in London town, pencil in a date between 11th - 20th November to visit the Elevator Gallery, where you can see Matteo's artwork in the flesh.
And if you like what you see (and maybe want to get a better look...in private, ahem), DigitalBondage 1.0 is available for £30 from www.lulu.com
