Featured Artist: Laura di Florio

The View 6 (Melbourne)

Window Exhibition:
Tues 23rd June - Sat 18th July, 2009
Laura di Florio, The View (Melbourne)

In this anticipated new body of work, The View (Melbourne), Laura di Florio continues to explore notions of time, space, place and memory through layered photographic acrylic panels. Her subject is part of a broader project involving the documentation of four major cityscapes around the world. Here, the city exposed is the artists’ hometown, Melbourne. The primary question asked by di Florio is, “what makes a city- its influences, its energy and how does the memory of a city continue to exist after you leave?”

Employing photography, mirror, Perspex and printmaking techniques di Florio layers and hides her images to create intimate and atmospheric spaces. The individual images may include urban streets, parklands, freeways, waterways, and sky. Combined, through di Florio’s technique, they are transformed- illustrating the “interior space of memory, emotion and the experience of that particular place.” When viewed as a group, these constructed panels of various sizes come to reflect a new and imagined skyline of Melbourne.

Acrylic panels in di Florio's studio

About the artist

Laura di Florio completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with First Class Honours in Printmaking, RMIT, 2006. Prior to this she completed a Diploma of Arts, RMIT, 2001. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions including; Red Gallery, (solo), 2003 and 2002; Pieces of Eight Gallery, Nowhere near the raincloud, (solo), 2007; CCP, Kodak Salon, 2009; Pieces of Eight Gallery, Through the Window: Alida Cappelletta and Laura di Florio, 2008; Sunday and Rex, London, 2008; Jenny Port Gallery, Inaugural Exhibition and Printmaking, 2007; McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park, Mary and Lou Senini Student Art Award, 2006-07; First Site Gallery, Printed Matter Only, 2006; Bus Gallery, Liquid Light, 2006; Royal Exhibition Building, Affordable Art Show, 2004 and Project Space, Actual Results May Vary, 2001. The View (Melbourne) is di Florio’s second solo exhibition at Pieces of Eight Gallery.

The View (Melbourne) will be visible 24 hours a day in the Pieces of Eight Gallery window from Tues 23rd June until Sat 18th July, 2009. The works will be exhibited as a whole created from a series of layered panels which will be available for purchase individually.

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Image from di Florio's studio

An interview with Laura di Florio, June 2009


1. What was the starting point for this new body of work?

I spent a short time in Shanghai last year and was overwhelmed by the scale of the city. I started a series of images there which inspired me to look locally at the Melbourne skyline and think about translating that idea to Melbourne.

The View 1 (Melbourne)

2. What drew you towards creating a ‘skyline’ of Melbourne?

I am completely intrigued and beguiled by the beauty of any skyline and have been wanting to make a large collection of individual works that when grouped together represent something else – in a sculptural way.

The View 3 (Melbourne)

3. You were trained as a printmaker at RMIT, when did you start working with the type of layering we see in this body of work?

The layering started whilst I was studying at RMIT. I was really struggling with incorporating transparency and an atmospheric feeling into the work. I had seen an exhibition at First Site where the artist had used traditional printmaking techniques on acrylic and so I started to experiment with printing photographic images directly onto acrylic and from there layering them together. It sort of snowballed from there.

The View 5 (Melbourne)

4. Can you tell us a little about the process you employ to create these acrylic works?

I generally always carry a camera with me wherever I go. Sometimes the process starts from one of these random photographs I have made on my daily travels. Other times the process starts with an idea of an image then I set about building up a large collection of images. From there I can see how the work will take shape. Next I print the images directly to the acrylic. I generally print many more than I need. Back in the studio I start to sort through and pull the images together into individual works.

The View 4 (Melbourne)

5. Photography has become a large part of your practice, what kind of cameras and techniques do you like to work with?

Photography is a huge part of my practice now. I love all sorts of photographic mediums and am building up quite a collection of cameras. The Holga is a lot of fun. The results are never what you expect due to the quirks of the camera. I also love Polaroid – which is sadly no more (although I have heard about The Impossible Project, which aims to reinvent and relaunch instant film). I have a few other vintage analogue cameras which I enjoy using, as well as several digital cameras. In terms of techniques, I work mostly with natural or streetlight and don’t generally like to work up an image. I love medium format film, and I especially enjoy making multiple exposures to build up an image on one negative.

Sketch book drawing of planned installation of The View (Melbourne)

6. In regards to other artists, who do you consider your greatest inspiration (feel free to list several)?

There are many artists that inspire my work …the ones that stand out are Wolfgang Tillmans, Janet Laurence, Sam Taylor-Wood, Hope Atherton, Bill Henson and Tacita Dean.

di Florio's sketch-book

7. Can you describe a typical day in your studio?

A typical day in the studio …starts with a coffee, checking emails and planning out the day ahead. Loads of research; web research, magazines, books, galleries exploring city, suburban streets and wharf areas for inspiration and photo opportunities; lots of notes and drawing; planning and playing with materials and images; heading out to my acrylic man to pick up supplies or to Port Melbourne to print and then once the light has dropped is when I most love to take pictures.

di Florio's studio

8. How do you visualise the Melbourne city skyline changing in your lifetime?

I love what’s happening down at Docklands – the way our city is changing and redefining itself. The view going over the Bolte Bridge, looking back into the city and out across Footscray, Flemington and beyond is intoxicating – it makes me feel like I am in a much larger city than Melbourne. I imagine that the city will get much denser …much like one of my boxes.

Inside di Florio's sketch books

9. Can you tell us what’s next for you (i.e. upcoming exhibitions, travel, etc)?

I have so many projects lined up for this year and beyond. I am working on some new object based works that will be housed in small Victorian style cabinets, a monochromatic multi-panel photographic work, some private commissions and new photographs.

Acrylic panels in di Florio's studio

10. Could you list for us your favourite websites?

There are so many… but most days I check out The Sartorialist, The Selby, The Design Files and most recently Luxury Culture (thanks to Lucy Folk!).