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Personal Info
| About | DolceQ is Massimiliano and Sonia, a creative duo hailing from Rome. Together they create "a sexy lovely world where butterflies, hearts, stars and women live together in a minimal, erotic futuristic style". The pair work across a huge range of projects that have included a music video for Rockstar, a sketchel bag, Lascivious' playing card project and the Taschen 2009 calender. |
Contact Info
| Website | www.dolceq.com |
What does DolceQ stand for?
DolceQ is a magical word I created with Sonia. I would say it’s an ambiguous word that hasn’t a real meaning, but to me represents what I love most!
Describe your style:
I love opposites, my style can be identified through a set of counterpoised elements such as black and white, sexy and rough, east and west, love and death.
Can you share a bit about the piece and how you conceived it:
We did this work because Rome is becoming more chaotic and polluted so we wanted to send a message: we decided to make some posters saying “ Why don’t you ride a bike instead of driving a car?” and just pasted them on the streets of Rome to force passersby to reconsider their impact on the environment. While I was drawing I used to listen to The Clash, so I ended up drawing and adding punk elements, tattoos and all. I was also reading something about Gothic Lolitas at that time so I wanted to gather these two elements in the piece.
What’s the first picture you can remember drawing as a child?
I remember drawing Batman and Robin a lot.
What was your first job?
I was maybe 14 or 15, I had to repeat a year and I spent the whole summer at an Aquapark checking tickets at the entrance.
What was the defining moment in your childhood when you thought – I want to become an artist when I grow up?
There wasn’t a specific moment, I’d rather say it’s been a continuous path made of experiences, people, travels and all that led me to do what I do now. I graduated in architecture, I used to play drums in a punk group and did graffiti instead of going to school, but in those moments I would have never thought to become an artist. Now I just want to continue doing what I like doing without thinking about it too much. Just do it for the passion.
What’s your process in creating a piece of art?
In most cases I start from an hand-drawing on my sketch book, then scan and use my g5. Sometimes I just like to experience new techniques, pasting the printed images on wooden panels and then adding acrylics or other media.
If you were to create a mixtape for Infectious, what would it sound like?
Sugarcubes – Motorcrash
Amanda Palmer – Runs In The Family
The Dresden Dolls – Girl Anachronism
Bauhaus – Bela Lugosi’s dead
Tori Amos – Blood Roses
Dead Kennedys – Chemical Warfare
Cold War Kids – Hang Me Up To Dry
Maxïmo Park – Our Velocity
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Gold Lion
Nine Inch Nails – Hurt
Jane’s Addiction – Sex is Violent
The Clash – Janie Jones
Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
Faust – Mamie Is Blue
Neu! – Hero
The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog
The Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love
Sex Pistols – Anarchy In The UK
Sigur Rös – Gobbledigook
Kings of Leon – King Of The Rodeo
Lykke Li – I’m Good. I’m Gone
Oingo Boingo – Little Girls
Ani DiFranco – Both Hands
Beastie Boys – Fight for Your Right
What’s the most unusual thing that’s ever inspired a piece of your art?
A man :D
What things have you seen recently that are going to inspire a piece of art?
Tenori ON by Yamaha and a book about the French Revolution.
What’s the most unusual canvas you’ve painted on?
In the “custom era” everything is possible and everything can become a perfect canvas. I used shoes, toys, mobiles, keyboards and much more but I don’t think any of these objects are unusual.
What is your favorite color?
Black.
Could you share three unique things in your work space that inspire you?
The pics of my dog Spike, Sonia’s drawings and a Banksy’s piece which says “So little to say…so much time”.
What art do you have on your walls?
My things, Shepard Fairey, a piece by anonymous French illustrator of the 19th century and my favourite, a serigraph by Roy Lichtenstein.
Can you describe your computer – what kind it is, what icons, desktop and screensavers you have on it?
My computer is a G5. What I like most is the headline of an old newspaper says ”Down with normality, it’s a matter of style”. My desktop changes often, from total white to sentences that I like. The icons are two goldfishes in their bowls.
If you had to design yourself a tattoo what would it be and where?
I’d like something in yakuza style, but honestly I don’t know. I love tattoos, there are too many I’d like to have on my skin.
Any advice to other artists thinking about submitting artwork out there?
Don’t wait for the right moment or for the time when you feel ready. Just do what you like to do, follow your passion.
If you had to change careers, what would be next?
A singer/musician.
Are there any upcoming shows or projects you’d like to share?
At the moment we are working on a solo show that’s going to be held in Rome in March. We are also working with a design company which uses recycled material to produce apparel and bags and many more projects we can’t reveal yet!
