As a multimedia designer, you work in many fields such as fashion design, costumes, jewellery design, and art direction. What medium is closer to your artistic heart?
I think that the multimedia “per se” is what is closer to me. I couldn’t survive on always using the same materials and always having the same destination. I need to shapeshift and explore new paths for myself. Then, of course, what is strictly connected to me and my spiritual beliefs at the moment is my jewellery line, which is my most personal sphere just because it is a completely personal project and I don’t do it for anybody else but myself. I love the alchemy that resides within the jewellery-making world and the energies that you can meet along the way. To me, it’s a very intense world. That’s also why I can’t simply sit down and continuously create. I get very tired after a few days and I need to get out and breathe fresh air.
How would you define your style?
I don’t really know. Especially after last year, I think that I’m shapeshifting again, which is very painful yet very refreshing at the same time. So I don’t really know if I will ever be able to define a style for myself. At this stage, I’m really angry and a bit hopeless, sometimes deeply sad. So, I guess that I tend to create darker, more raw works. Anyways, the most important thing to me is to communicate something, to “speak”, the style has never been my focus.
Where is the inspiration for your artworks coming from?
Mainly from my personal experiences, my daily life, the people I meet. I also read a lot of philosophy books as well as gender-related essays. I watch a lot of movies.
How do you stay motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic?
That’s the MOST difficult question. I used to manage my personal crisis by traveling and, of course, now I can’t do it anymore, which makes everything worse.
Nowadays, I try to take care of myself. To have a routine, stay healthy. I try to accept the fact that I’m not feeling too well as well as anybody else. Also, I’m in therapy, which really saves me sometimes. So let’s say that there is no recipe thanks to which I stay motivated. I simply try to accept my existence day by day, I don’t project myself too far into the future. Baby steps.
Did you notice differences in your work after the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes, indeed. Some differences depend on personal issues and experiences, some others on COVID-19 restrictions. I’m, for sure, gravitating towards a different kind of scenario. If there was more “fantasy” and more “dreaming” before, now it’s a way rawer representation of magic and a darker vision.
Do you feel like the medieval theme is making a comeback into the art scene nowadays?
It is, I think, since a couple of years back. It’s really interesting to see it transforming and blending together with more contemporary media.
BIO / Ilaria Demo De Lorenzi is an italian art director and multimedia artist. She graduated from the artistic high school in her hometown in 2014. In 2018, she gained her BA title with honours in Arts and Fashion design at NABA (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti) in Milano. In 2020, she attended the Art Direction for Fashion course at Central St. Martins College in London and the Enamelling for Jewelry course at Scuola Orafa Ambrosiana in Milano. In 2019, Ilaria attended the Milan Jewelry Week (MJW), winning the Scuola Ambrosiana Award at the event Artistar Jewels, and she will attend MJW again in June 2021. At the moment, Ilaria is represented by the famous Galeria Alice Floriano in Brazil and by Galleria Artistica in Italy.
CREDITS
Eerie
Photo by Vittoria Elena Simone @vittoriaelenasimone
Models: Ga Eun Kim @whenkimisnotvillain and Alexia Colombo @xelaflame
MUA: Ilaria Bosco @bhoila, Erika Calabrò @erikacalabro.mua
SFX: Ilaria Bosco @bhoila, Beatrice Tell @be_sfx
Assistant MUA: Ylenia Calabrese @yleniacalabresemakeup
Set Design: Francesca Antolini @a.f.miele
Set Design Assistant: Ella Fortunato
@ellafortunato
Creative direction + fashion:
Ilaria Demo De Lorenzi @ilariademodelorenzi
Scavanger editorial (elfs)
Photo by Sara Dresti @ex.favilla
Models: Massimiliano Ricci
@mrmassoul, Alexia Colombo @xelaflame
MUA: Ilaria Bosco @bhoila
Creative direction + jewels:
Ilaria Demo De Lorenzi
@ilariademodelorenzi
Insect photo
“From the dirt” brooch –
brass dragonfly. Insect from Austria.
Photo by Sara Dresti @ex.favilla
Model: Matilde Canuti @mathimos
Creative direction + jewels:
Ilaria Demo De Lorenzi
product photos of jewellery
Photo by Sara Dresti @ex.favilla
Creative direction + jewels:
Ilaria Demo De Lorenzi
@ilariademodelorenzi