Benedetta Borrometi: Cheerful Paintings for All

24 Dec 2008 Category: Arts & Crafts, Graphics, Worldwide

Benedetta Borrometi: Cheerful Paintings for All

Merry Christmas, everyone! This painting -- sure to make everyone smile -- is by Benedetta Borrometi.

Dearest PingMag readers, Merry Christmas! Yes, it’s already Christmas time again. Have you sorted all of those Christmas presents for your loved ones? Instead of giving you a lovely present, today we introduce you to some cute and shiny handcrafted paintings by Italian artist Benedetta Borrometi, originally from Rome and now based in Tokyo. Enjoy!

Written by Chiemi

Benedetta, I heard that you weren’t expecting to be an artist when you were a student. Is that true?

I was studying to be a lawyer, but my dream was to be a painter and to communicate my feelings through my art. One day, I put one of my paintings on the empty wall of an interior shop that my mom owns. Then, people who wanted to buy my painting started appearing, one after another, and for the first time I felt that dreams can really come true. So after I graduated from school I went to Central Saint Martin’s in London and studied fine art.

Lots of glitter and tiny little ornaments on Benedetta’s work.

A self-portrait.

You moved to Tokyo about three years ago. Does your life in Tokyo inspire you a lot?

I’ve traveled all over the world, but Japan gives me the most inspiration. That doesn’t mean I paint things about Japanese culture. All my work is about myself, all these girls in my work are me. Well, I make her a little slimmer than me in real life though. (laughs) I express the things which happened in my life, and the emotion I had then.

A lot of your works are three-dimensional, aren’t they?

I like to use different techniques, and I love to play with materials that help make my work come alive. My art is coming out of the canvas, and that’s very attractive to me. I think I can better express my imagination in 3D.

Benedetta was inspired by a photo of Marilyn Monroe on an elephant, and thought she wanted to ride on an elephant too. “The quickest way to ride on an elephant is to draw it by yourself,” says Benedetta.

Can you make out the decorations on this painting?

Where do you usually get the material to make them 3D?

My inspiration comes from traveling. I love to go to antique markets and art shops all over the world, and there I buy many things: mosaic tiles, pompoms, egg shells, old obi and kimonos, antique lace, etc.

So many different kinds of materials!

These are ornaments for the wall. They are made by an old guy at an old shop in Rome. When I go there, I say to the guy, “I use these for my paintings.” But he always says, “You can do whatever you like, but these are not for paintings, they are for walls!” And I get told off. (laughs)

Lovely ornaments to place on a wall. You see them a lot in Europe.

And here is the painting with those ornaments!

You have collaborated with very popular Japanese fashion designer Chisato Tsumori, haven’t you?

We met by chance, like many important things in my life. I was in her shop in Paris one day and I bumped into her. We started to talk and she invited me to see her show during fashion week in Paris. She saw my works then, and we met again in Tokyo and started to draw together, and we became friends.

A painting titled “Sioux.”

Wow, that’s a great story! Your style and her style match perfectly, so I’m sure that it wasn’t just a coincidence! I hear that your favorite saying is “dreams can come true.” We always get contacted by many artists and designers abroad who want to move to Japan and work. Is there any tip that you can give them?

All I can say is, just buy a ticket to Japan and get on an airplane! Maybe only for a short period at first though — it may be hard in the beginning. Also, if you learn the language and its culture, Japan will become a really fun place to be. I started to study Japanese when I was 30 years old, and some friends said, “Studying Japanese from the age of 30 is crazy!” But now I even go to izakayas with only my Japanese friends!

Her favorite macarons (left) and a painting with the message “Dreams can come true.”

So you must be very happy to live here.

Actually, I have forgotten half of the kanji I studied (laughs), but yes, I’m very happy now. Tokyo is like a place with the best bits of Europe, so I think it’s very easy to live for us. If there is one problem with Japan, it’s the distance from my country, Italy. My mom always says, “Why did you go so far away?” (laughs) But it’s true that I also miss Europe a lot. I actually have many projects in Italy right now. I’ve just collaborated with an Italian fashion designer on a dress that is painted by me, for the exhibition “ART A PORTER” in Rome. I also have my own exhibition in Rome at the moment. But I would love to work more in Japan.

Benedetta’s work, with “I’m by your side” written in Japanese (left) and a painting titled “my present and my past.”

Another self-portrait, with lots of cakes.

A very big painting of a tree with many different kinds of fabric. Lovely!

Lastly, could you tell us what you think about your work?

I want to spread happiness with my work. I love to think that part of me can be in “different” homes, and that “different” people can feel “different” sensations from my paintings.


Benedetta at her exhibition in Rome.

So are you happy that you didn’t become a lawyer?

Of course! You know, you only live your life once!

Thank you very much for showing us these perfect paintings for Christmas, Benedetta! We hope everyone in the world is happy and smiling right now. Merry Christmas to you all!

[Info] Benedetta’s works are on display at the Tad store in Rome, until February 2009.

Tad Conceptstore Rome
Via Del Babuino 155/a
00187 Rome

24 Comments

  1. Her art is amazing….
    I’ve known her about a year.
    Her art tells a lot about Benedetta, she’s so pure, colorful, and very romantic….. I miss you!!!!

    Posted by: ryoco on December 24th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

  2. wow my niece can paint that too

    Posted by: Anonymous on December 25th, 2008 at 2:23 am

  3. I like her whimsical and playful approach to her Art! SHe should come to Vancouver to exhibit!
    Thanks!

    Posted by: Ron Lee on December 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

  4. Lol Vancouver art n design so shitty.

    Posted by: Anonymous on December 26th, 2008 at 6:42 am

  5. agree! been to YVR not impressed at all. bunch of untalented wannabe, most ppl don’t even really know much about design elsewhere. God those 2010 design so shitty. Our 2012 so much better, but not as great as the chinese

    Posted by: MissyUK on December 26th, 2008 at 6:48 am

  6. i love that paitings !!!!full of energy and atmosphere…the dress is so cute…

    Posted by: Anonymous on December 26th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

  7. Bene is a wonderful artist!!!!
    ahaha^^)i remember 3years ago…and now!!!…Wow spettacular!!ahah^^
    i love that dress!!!and the indian paint too^^)….
    Bene!!!OMEDETOU!!!kisu

    Posted by: Lalla on December 26th, 2008 at 9:52 pm

  8. Maybe this is cooler when you see it in person, in a gallery, where you can better see texture. Stuff looks bland and overly-simplistic in these photos.

    Posted by: earl on December 31st, 2008 at 4:31 am

  9. very nice stuff

    Posted by: mitch on January 28th, 2009 at 3:06 am

  10. creation ;-) is a gift lovely work.

    Posted by: kalonji on February 26th, 2009 at 8:32 am

  11. completely uninspiring, lacking in emotion or impact. i really do not like.

    Posted by: kreebilicus on March 25th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

  12. the collage and the mixing of materials are so interesting.I love them

    Posted by: Anonymous on April 15th, 2009 at 11:01 am

  13. very nice stuff

    Posted by: paranın adresi on May 31st, 2009 at 2:37 am

  14. kabin almak için geliniz.

    Posted by: kabin on July 1st, 2009 at 4:36 pm

  15. very good very nice. blogger.

    Posted by: kabin on July 1st, 2009 at 4:36 pm

  16. aci işe mi ihtiyacın var? Ne duruyorsun hemen bize katıl.

    Posted by: acil iş on August 6th, 2009 at 6:35 am

  17. english please.thank　you

    Posted by: Anonymous on August 6th, 2009 at 3:30 pm

  18. very nice stuff

    Posted by: emekliye iş on August 11th, 2009 at 7:55 am

  19. o ne biçim şekiller falan lan.yayınla şunu hadi bakma öyle.

    Posted by: redtube on August 19th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

  20. english please<

    Why? Why should we comply to YOUR limitations?

    Posted by: anonymous 2 on August 20th, 2009 at 10:49 am

  21. Ev, araba, yüksek bir gelir burada

    Posted by: Hayatını değiştir on September 11th, 2009 at 8:11 pm

  22. Yeterince paran var mı

    Posted by: Hayatını değiştir on September 11th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

  23. aloevera nedir

    Posted by: aloevera ürünleri on September 21st, 2009 at 3:31 am

  24. forever living aloevera ürünleri

    Posted by: aloevera forever on September 21st, 2009 at 3:32 am

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