Emigrating to Canberra from Rome in 2016, Luca Siliquini now presents his first exhibition in Australia, Chromology, at Humble House gallery from 18 March to 16 April. He chatted with CW to discuss Canberra, colours, and artistic methods.

1. This is your first exhibition in Australia. How long have you been painting?

I’m 50 and I started painting techniques when I was 16 because I was at school. After three years of studying art, when I started studying surrealism, when I started to see what Kandinsky was doing, Dali was doing, Chagall, then there was the click in my mind.

2. Chromology is about the colours of Canberra. What are these colours?

I can see a lot of reds; you will think green, but, for example, in winter I can see a lot of blue, the cold just because in my mind it’s a fusion of the different senses.

Spring is when I start to see the green, the green in contrast with the sky, but then in summer I discovered that it can be tricky … the summer is an explosion.

3. Tell us about your method of painting.

Oil colour, from the beginning. never thought to change, for me, it is oil – I like the smell, I like the consistency. Some the colour could be very flat, not grainy; others there is a lot of [texture], it depends on the feeling. If I need to show a sign, a symbol, a form as a body, I will use a lot of colour impasto.

4. Is painting in Australia different to painting in Italy?

You’re asking me something that I still need to understand.

Honestly, if you feel that you are a painter, if you are a creative person, you can be living always in the same place and always have your imagination and your creativity.

5. What’s next?

I’m working; I’m already working. It is quite an interesting period for me, in Italian we say ‘L’appetito vien mangiando’ – it means you get hungry when you start eating. If you start nibbling, you will discover you that you are hungry, you will start eating more and this is what is happening now to me.

Luca Siliquini’s answers have been condensed for publication.

See Luca Siliquini’s Chromology at Humble House gallery, Fyshwick, 18 March-16 April; humblehouse.com.au

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