about the project.
Davide began by showing students slides of his work, to explain his technique of drawing by burning images with a magnifying glass.
He then guided the students in a similar procedure where they traced images and burned outlines of their drawings. Each student was then asked to create a drawing of his or her idea of “paradise.” These images were used as backgrounds for self-portraits. For these drawings, David introduced the students to the technique of scaling by grid-work. As they mastered this technique, they were able to use their drawings to trace a new image that became the one they burned.
“How quickly you forget what it was like to be 12 years old… and how quickly you remember! I liked the mix of enthusiasm and lethargy, excitement and boredom… and the endless chatter. I found myself joining in the various conversations instead of trying to keep the class quiet, which fit in fine with the combustive side of the project.”
about the artist.
Davide Cantoni was born in Milan, Italy. He received his BFA from the Slade School, U.C.L. London, and his MFA from the Royal College of Art, London. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Cantoni’s mixed-media practice encompasses painting, drawing, video, and sculpture and has been exhibited extensively internationally.
To learn more, visit: www.davidecantoni.org