Interview with Guido Formenti

For my beginning we must go a bit back in time, already when I was a young boy I loved wood carving and create something “different”, but staying useful to. With just a tiny knife I use to carv little shapes on a wood stick while I was keeping my father’s animals.With all this years, learning more and more, i was always at work and with my tenacity and inner power I managed to create myself a space in the business, making my passion my job. So I built my workshop, in the nature that is my biggest source of inspiration.

I use to follow the triangle rule to shape my works and it means to sort of see my design like triangles. I don' t use digital tools but I prefere keep the tradition and i always make project with cardboard or plywood. I usually start new projects in a long time due to difficulties, economic and about time that I need to face.

It is always exciting create something new. Feel the inspiration pervading your body and your mind is something indescribable, your only task i sto follow it. The satisfaction felt when you finish something you start is simply really gratifying.

I would identify myself like an artist, shaped by the tenacy and fantasy always with me. Obviously, I’ve also learned innumerabile technics that improved a lot my abilities as a disigner. The style of Josep Maria Subirachs is the one I keep with me the most. My way as a designer have always been a bit hard and difficult.

One of my greatest dreams as an artist is be able to create structure, obviously made with wood, illustratine stylised animals. Stucture that, being a useful object, can be positionated in public places and the people can interact and enjoy them.

My advice for new artist or designer, seeing my personal experience, is to always follow theyr own way and own dreams. It also is to stay sure of you abilities due the adversity of life.

Unfortunately I feel forced to speak about money, I would advice ( if you don’t already have the possibilities) to stay with some good artisan or/and find good sponsors.

I would call myself crazy, my days are complitely different one to the other. I use to spend part of the day collecting material for my works around bushes, always projecting new things and in the end make something complitely differernt. I use to work a lot with machinery but sometimes I feel I need a breack, so I enjoy staying in my orchard or enjoy a coffee in my town bar. Other days nothing else matter, just my head on the machinery and the work I’m doing, to the end of it. I guess it change with my inspiration.

Most of the time I keep my personal style but sometimes I like to in spire about designes of the moment and I very much like art installations.

I realize a design is well done when you can see the perfect mix of art and technique added to the sensations that the artist can send while you’re observing it. Also, it must be a good misture of stability and movement, created by the artist.

The design start from an abstract initial idea and durino the elaboration it can be edited, changed and improved considerating the technical difficulties due to bilance, stability, utilità and total harmony. When you feel you’ve reach all the things you imagined, you can say the design is ready.

I can say my best designed work is the one I call “labirinto” (labyrinth). That’s one of my first projects, it was created with the duty of showing a bit my life or even everyone’s life. It wants to represent the “rout” of life. It still is a source of inspiration for me and a message to everyone. I think a true artist put a bit of himself/herself inside his art.

Sergio Musmeci is one of the most interesting designer in my opinio, with Zaha Hadid or also Renzo Piano.

My favourite city, source of inspiration too, is Berlin. i don' t use music in my creations but I prefer think accompanied by the silence. One of the improvement of being an artist are the freedom to do the work you desire the most.

I use to work alone, i like to be with myself while I am creating or designin something, but I also like work with someone. My policy is a bit of semplicità, honesty, sincerity, bright curiosità and a lot of destre to do.

i donated few object of design for places of worship or even public park.

I believe is good take part of competitions for both the progress and the end of them.During it you can feel the stress for it and the agitation accompanied by the desire of create a good object and improv it to the best. In the end you can feel the happiness of winning or, in the other side, the desire to do your best and try again another time.I think design competitions can be very important and considerable if well created, because they can make you feel the sensations just named and also they can give you the opportunity of meet and know other artists and even the pleasure of get some recognition and “looks”.

The desire to always create something new with my hands has been inside me since when I was a little boy and this wish, becoming stronger made me follow this way untill I became a designer.

I chosed to be a designer, nobody forced me, it was something felt inside.

I usually design object of daily use, useful things such as various furnishings and I also like art installation.

I think the sicret is work much as possible, be strong and dedicate the time to what they really whant to do, training and learning more and more.

I think that is purely subjective.

I think it is a subjective thing, the most of the time anyone can have different opinion.

To improve the living comfort and the armony in every places.

I would love to create art installation of very big size to put in public places such as urban park.

My dream project is a massive art installation with a whale shape.

I believe the sicret is a massive desire to do and never give up.

Antonio Gaudì
Renzo Piano

I don't have something in poarticular, but i like lots of them because they are interesting desing and they fascinate and inspire me.

My greatest design is the one called "labirinto" (labyrinth), I love the complexity in it and the sensations you can feel observing it. The feelings and the meaning behind it are very strong and deep.

I guess the move is keep trying, learning from every mistake.

forest ranger

To me, design is everything, design is life.

My biggest supporter is a dear friend of mine, a Franciscan friar from Modena.

My faith and confidence in my capacities helped me the most, like always believing in myself.

I unfortunately had to face lots of obstacles during my way, such a economics difficoulties.

I guess just showing them and maybe explaning the "meaning" and the story behind it.

I think various art installations.

My biggest dream as a designer is to become really famous.

I think because you can express yourself with it.

I am working on a particular bench with parts of a turtle shell.

The ones that I struggled the most doing it because it was a reached goal and also the ones I sold because they gave me the possibility to live and keep doing what I love.

I would like to see more ecology in the design industry.

I believe they will start to make art installation in the seas.

It really depends to the creation I' m workin on, it could take from a day to a year, or even more.

I always start from a sketch on a piece of paper.

"SEMPRE AVANTI" (always ahead)

I think it must not follow any trends or "rule", but it simply has to be a project able to improve what's around us. I think it has to be sobjective, following what we are and we consider beauty, staying pure and unique.

Tecnology does not have space in my design way.

I use just paper and a pencil.

I think it is purely sobjective.

I wish to have the space and the possibility to create what I see and feel in the design demand.

I think is really enjoyable to see a new great design, I feel admiration.

I usually work alone, but I would like someone working with and he/she has to be with a big willpower and interior strenght, but also a lot of desire to do and improve hisself/herself.

The books with the most effect on my designs are the ones about big civilization of the past, such as
Egyptians, Maya, Ittiti and Celtic.

"Making mistakes", I believe making mistakes and not stopping on them is the best way to develop yourself, yuo can learn from them.

Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarotti.

I actually feel the same, I think I am not different to anyone else.

My favourite color is red, the place is my home, my favourite food is organic vegetable, my favourite season is summer and my favourite thing is a good pair of shoes.

It was the "A Design Award" in Como, It was interesting and really good to meet other designer, speak with them and see their project.

The desire to do something new or complete work in progres is what make my days great, I always want to see what I am working on, so this is how I motivate myself.

No, it wasn't obvious at all, I had a very difficult journey.

I see it difficoult if we keep thinking just about ourself, and about design I guess they will make art installation on Mars.

I would like them to know my style, understand my way to do and catch what's behind my works.

in my opinion design is innovation.

Sculptures and furniture.

Geometric figures, projects that rise into space, creating movement.

I have never created anything for a company.

when I am alone, far from the people and society.

During the "design" I think particulary of the beauty and singularity of the object and how to achieve the aim of putting together the beauty and functionality.

I relax myself.

Satisfaction and happiness.

Winning a competition and make sales.

Beauty, utility, stability, size.

The responsibility of a designer for the society and the environment are innovation but with respect for the nature and landscape.

It evolves very well because new ideas are considered. This leads to great future.

Near the Garda lake, Salò, in 2016. I am not sure about the next show.

my creativity is the result of analytical research of the deep. mountain and the wild nature are my source of inspiration and grow my creativity.

Making new items, growing slowly in my art, no static but dynamic creations; no drawings, just a simple sketch.

On the mountains; no contaminations about my roots, just relax and energy from the nature.

No drawing process, just a simple sketch, easy and naturally.

I only use my art items

Never give up and don't be in a hurry. The experience is made on the field and over the years.

it is good to have this gift and express yourself through art. the negative of being a designer is the difficoulty of emerge and to not have economic help and importance by the istitution.

Drawing and try one time again.

I don't know, I'm just an artist!!!

Pen paper and plywood models.

Not for me.

It depends on the object.

forniture is my favourite because they can be very useful and used.

My plan for the future is simple: pursuing my passion with honesty and having an income.

I've always work in progress.

www.oasidellarte.it
info@oasidellarte.it

During the execution of the works there are often problems for radical changes statics or even because the ideas are renewed.