Caterina Pacialeo in Conversation with Noella Lopez

Caterina is a photographic artist living and working in Sydney (Australia). I first encountered Caterina’s work at a Head On exhibition when the finalists were shown in one gallery in Balmain! It was a portrait as part of the Group Think series of works. I was mesmerised by this work, the details, the colour palette, the story telling and the invitation to create your own story.

Each body of work that Caterina creates is given extreme attention, reflection and space. They are each inviting to unfold their own stories and interpretation; although always remain close to their creator.  

Your conceptual portraits take great inspiration from people, places and diversity, they are also deeply personal. How do you think audiences react to your work? 

To me, portraits are one of the most compelling and grandest of all subjects. In essence, it is a reflection or observation into oneself or another world, be it a famous or infamous character or a random snapshot of an individual. I always ask myself what is the intention behind the image and what each sitter brings to the image be it their emotions and stories.  

I draw my inspiration from others around me, through observation, reflection, storytelling and how I deeply feel about a particular person, issue or story. I work with people and locations and aim at blending them and bringing new meaning. Sometimes I may end up at the other end of the spectrum to my surprise!

When I set out to create a portrait, first and foremost my intention is with the subject and the matter at heart. The audience does not come really into the equation except for the Group Think series of photographs. I feel I do not have much control over what an audience might think, react or interpret, as these emotions are entirely up to the individual. That is the beauty of interpretation. I would like to think that my work can and will inspire the audience in one way or another. From the comments I receive, I sense that the audience response or reaction to the image is what each individual brings to the surface given their own experiences and background as photography and art can be interactive and subjective.

Your photographic prints demand reflection on the mental conditioning of reality, dreams, interactions and conformity. How do you articulate these more specifically with the Group Think series of photographs?

Group Think series was a body of work that expanded and changed over a two-year period. The intention was originally to bring about a series of portraits set out in particular environments “environmental portraits” as I like to call them. Group Think series is designed to challenge and inspire questions for the viewer. The images are somewhat a mirror created to reflect back at the audience.

Group Think creates an internal pause were we sit in the present moment; that point between A and B where perhaps we take the time to question the realities of living, truth, dreams and the possibility of being caught in a trance of social conditioning. This reflection may highlight expectations based on social conformity that we have come to believe to be our needs and wants.

The ‘Elements' Series is a new body of work never shown before.  I have this sense that these works explore a broader context although still trying to capture the moment, the unexplainable and the emotion constantly evolving. Can you tell us more about that body of work and how different or separate from your previous series it may be?

I see the 'Elements' series as an external reflection in contrast to my previous works, a shift of the “environmental portrait” to its blending within its inner landscape. Elements series creates an external pause, a meditation and highlights our individual connection to the Elements.  This series is based and designed in a simple yet complex series of events involving the thought process of stillness and the present moment. This body of works aims at showing our connection and engagement to our environment, as an extension and expansive space that fills space itself, endless, indescribable.

The figures in Elements are not the focal point in a way but the visible link and the reference to the space they occupy. For example, the artwork ‘Water’ depicts the stillness and transparency of the water surface where two human figures are afloat as equals, in unison, not separate, not superior. When one goes deep within the surface, there is an expansive unlimited continuous endless energy and light. In fact, I only use the figures as a reference to water.

After ‘Elements’ what is your next step? Tell us more about your next body of work, your interests and inspirations, and what you are currently working on.

My interests and inspirations in terms of the meaning of time, place, space, truth and awareness through the self have been an on-going focus in my interwoven personal life, meditation and art practices.

I am currently playing with a few ideas continuing to reference observations, connections, space and environments. I am still at the conceptual stage developing visual ideas. I am also keen to explore multi-media approaches to allow little interludes of poetry through imagery as abstract moments through movement.

Caterina Pacialeo July 2014

'Water' - Elements Series - Photograph - Archival Pigment Inkjet Print - 100cm x 150cm -