Colleen Brannigan: Unveiling the Invisible Cities Through Surrealist Artistry

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Woman working with ceramic tools in a rustic workshop.

“Marco Polo describes a bridge, stone by stone. ‘But which is the stone that supports the bridge?’ Kublai Khan asks, ‘The bridge is not supported by one stone or another,’ Marco answers, ‘but by the line of the arch that they form.’ Kublai Khan remains silent, reflecting.Then he adds: ‘Why do you speak to me of the stones? It is only the arch that matters to me.’ Polo answers: ‘Without stones there is no arch.” ― Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities

Italo Calvino (1923-1985) was one of the most important fiction writers in the late twentieth century, now representing the Italian writer par excellence. He is mostly known for his literary experimentation which led him to blend fantasy, fable, and history to give an illuminated depiction of modern life.

His most interesting book is ‘The Invisible Cities’ of 1972. A series of prose poems describing 55 fictitious cities each of which has its own story that can be read as a parable or meditation on the human experience. The artist who illustrated the cities is Colleen Brannigan.

Rocco met her several years ago, after discovering that she lived in Abruzzo, Italy, and chose her as an artist for a project he was working on. I had the great pleasure of meeting her in 2018. From this meeting a friendship was born and in March 2019 we had the opportunity to spend a beautiful day together, during which Rocco learnt the Etching technique.

But let’s find out together who Colleen Brannigan is as an artist…

Artisan working in a rustic studio with stone walls, large table, and various tools. Cozy and creative workspace atmosphere.

Can you tell me a little about your background and how you got into art?

I was born in 1971, to an Irish mother and an Italian father. I did my art studies in London, Tokyo and New York, where I received enormous acclaim for my work on expressionism.

Have you ever exhibited your artwork in galleries or other venues? If so, can you tell me about some of your past exhibitions?

My art exhibitions started in 1999 with a group show at the Covent Garden Flower festival in London, followed by numerous group and solo exhibitions both in Italy and abroad. I speak of Greece, Spain, Belgium, France, South Africa, Australia, China, Russia, Switzerland, Japan, USA, Israel, Sweden, Saudi Arabia. I also participated in the group exhibition ‘Mint Exchange’ & ‘What is a Print’ – ‘Baren’ Gallery of Quebec – Printmaking Council, Montreal, Canada in 2001. And in the group exhibition ‘Miniare’ Montreal International Miniature Print Biennial in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 2002.

My first ‘Invisible Cities’ exhibition featured all of Calvino’s cities, each with an artistic representation of mine, and was displayed in 2006 at the Gabriele D’Annunzio museum in Pescara.

Colleen how did the inspiration for Invisible Cities come about?

My first approach to the ‘Invisible Cities’ came as a shallow indifference. Nothing more than part of a university programme to carry out; they remained dormant in my mind for years. Then, one day, in New York, while I was working on etchings of English castles that I was familiar with, Eudossia took form. That is how the dusty cities of the past came to life and set the foundations of imaginary worlds that I wished to create from the ‘English’ designs. Now, each time my mind recalls the streets of the cities as described by Calvino, I get new inspirations from words that I had not noticed before or meanings that are open to new interpretations in a discovery that is never ending.

What are some of your biggest influences or inspirations as an artist?

Anything and everything could influence me: from the colour of the sky on a particular day, an experience or just words uttered or read.

Some people associate my artwork to Escher’s art style which I find totally different from mine. Although he works with buildings just like me, I believe my style is unique: neither planned nor constructed with rulers or calculations, I feel I am more expressive, and I build as I go along. I enjoy studying works by Picasso as well as Kandinsky or Boccioni, Severini, just to name a few but I don’t feel I am influenced by them, I might be inspired in some way either by the use of colour or brushstrokes, but the ideas are completely mine.

Person working on art project in studio, painting and using tools on wooden table. Art supplies visible in background.

Can you describe your artistic style and the themes or ideas you like to explore in your work?

My artistic style is hard to define… I am abstract at times, surrealist other times. Mostly surrealist I would say.

What do you think sets your artwork apart from others in your field?

My artwork is set apart in many ways. In the ‘Invisible Cities’ series for example I draw inspiration from a book by Italo Calvino, a famous Italian writer who describes impossible cities whose characteristic is based on human problems or issues. Cities which devour man, cities with eyes that spy, gray monotonous cities which offer nothing to the traveller, cities of the dead etc.

I just imagine how a city could be depicted after reading one of his stories and I sometimes draw/paint multiple versions of that same city according to new ideas or suggestions. I don’t only paint: being an eclectic artist I also enjoy working with other media like ceramics or printmaking. So, my artwork changes each time depending also on what media I am using.

What is your creative process like when you are working on a new piece or project?

Creative process… Complicated to explain. There is no real process… I often work in series, which means I start a project which is not just painting one piece or sculpt one image. Everything is done in series.

Are there any upcoming projects or exhibitions you are working on that you would like to share with me?

For example, at the moment I am working on Italic sculptures, looking at past artifacts and being inspired by what peoples of 2000 years ago used to sculpt and from that I invent my own images. Another series is what I call the violin series, which is a series of more abstract/futurist artwork based on music and musical instruments.

Artist working in print studio creating various artworks with students, showcasing printing techniques and collaboration.

How do you see your artwork evolving or changing in the future?

I don’t know what to expect from the evolution of my artwork.

Lastly, where can people find more of your artwork or stay up to date with your latest projects and exhibitions?

To find more about my artwork visit: www.cittainvisibili.com

Smiling woman in red dress sitting on a white sofa, leaning on her hand.

Nancy Perin

Nancy is a caring individual with a background in sociology and a strong desire to connect people. She has improved workplaces and communities with her almost two decades of experience in management teams, human resources, coaching, and community project management. Nancy has also served on the board of directors of the Italian Personnel Managers Association and participated in a humanitarian mission to Dakar, Senegal, to support family centres.

Her intercultural love story sparked her interest in migration-relatedtopics and led her to launch @journeysta, a project that aims to strengthen cultural ties between Canada and Italy.

Nancy oversees the Gallery of Human Migration and believes in the possibility of creating caring communities that are involved in the processes of welcoming, acceptance, and integration. Join her on this journey of discovery and cultural exchange.

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