Dreams in ink
- Gianle is a versatile illustrator creating his own dreamlike world
- He mostly draws on paper with ink pens, markers and watercolours
- His signature subject is a dream whale
Gianle Lametà is a very versatile illustrator and craftsman. His art ranges from illustration to woodwork, ceramics and even terrarium making. His daily creative agenda varies depending on his mood and inspiration. Yet there is a common thread that binds together all his works, and that is especially evident in his drawings – it is the creation of a dreamlike world. This is populated by fantastic beasts, flying whales, houses floating in the air and much more. “I am not a people person and I do not quite fit into society,” he explains. “That is why with everything I do, I create alternative universes, where I can take refuge and feel at ease.” Gianle is completely self-taught. Before becoming a full-time illustrator, he earned a living by working in a refinery, but he had also been a graffiti artist since his teenage days.
INTERVIEW
Quite the opposite. Actually, I have been trying to move away from graffiti, which were loaded with vivid colours, lines and letters. Nowadays my style is quite minimalist. I draw just a few elements and use few, well balanced colours – teal, purple, black and white are my favourites.
Yes, I do. Since I was a child, I have been a great fan of Japanese animé director Hayao Miyazaki. Growing up with his movies, I am influenced by his dream vision of life and fantastic universes. But I also admire contemporary artists like Felicia Chiao.
It often changes, like everything else about my work. Recently, I have been drawing mostly on paper with ink pens, ProMarkers, Posca markers and watercolours. In the past, I used a lot of acrylics on wood and canvas. In general, the technique varies with the base or canvas.
I was looking for a new subject, when the whale turned up and blew me away. Only afterwards did I learn its meaning for Native Americans, who think the whale is witness to an ancient world that no longer exists. It fits perfectly with my own vision!
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