Elia Sampò
Turin, Italy
About Elia
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Bio
The root of the word "Illustration" is the same root of "Illumination" I'm Elia Sampò, I'm a graphic designer and an illustrator. I like to put together concepts and images, make unusual associations, using metaphors or visual rhetoric, with the intention of suggesting a new perspective on things that surround us. Conceptual illustration is a kind of image that focuses on meaning, it uses symbologies, sometimes it’s a little puzzle or a joke - sometimes, if it works well - it’s like a poem. I’m interested in philosophy, semiotics and visual languages. I'm currently based in Piedmont, Italy. Selected Client list
Barron's Magazine ▪ Chemical & Engineering News ▪ Weil Cornell Medicine ▪ Saltwater Sportsman ▪ Wimu Wine Museum ▪ Tulane University ▪ Freeman Business Magazine ▪ University of Turin ▪ Facets Erc ▪ Birdmen Magazine ▪ Inchiostro Magazine ▪ Cantina Comunale di La Morra ▪ Murrae Loft ▪ Anomalia Theatre INterview with Elia Sampò
How old were you when first realized you wanted to become an artist? As a child I drew a lot - I think like many children - at school I loved to doodle or make funny drawings, an element that continued until university. After that I tried to take it more seriously and tried to cultivate this interest in drawing, in graphic design and visual communication. Have you studied art formally? In part yes, I studied at a Liceo Artistico (artistic High School) in Italy, but my university career was humanistic, I studied communication in Turin, where I came into contact with disciplines that were fundamental for my education, from semiotics to the philosophy of language. Is there an artist whose work you admire? What is it about their artwork that intrigues you? The approach I prefer, where possible, is conceptual illustration, which has its roots in surrealism and the first graphic investigations of twentieth-century poster artists. Where the rhetorical and metaphorical dimension is predominant. I try to be omnivorous with the vast amount of artistic work that has been produced in the visual field - illustration is but a small part. If I can I often look elsewhere: photography, cinema, music and literature. How did you arrive at your current style. What techniques inspired you? I have always considered the fact that "style" must remain more or less consistent throughout an artistic career a flaw. I try, where I can, to explore a deep level, closer to language than to superficial forms. The conceptual illustration is closer to a play on words than to a "style", it is based on a baroque approach to displacement, at times it is cloying but at times it opens up new territories of understanding. Where do you find inspiration, concepts or images for your illustrations? So far what I have found most effective is reading texts, but I also like to research how masters of the past solved complex problems with just a few graphic signs. Do you have a purpose, a key message about important topics you wish to portray through your artwork? If I can clarify a message (or simply draw attention to it) I am satisfied. Having said that, I don't want to be the bearer of any value, I'm content to suggest new perspectives on some more intricate topics. What clues might you provide to help viewers understand your art? If there are any, captions are essential. The illustration always works only with text. Can you describe your creative process? It's not really linear. I start with reading, do some brainstorming, some thumbnails. I'll let it settle, looking for a solid idea. Once I find something convincing, if approved, I finalize the drawing digitally. What tools do you use most in your work? The sketch for me is always by hand, even if it is an incomprehensible scribble. I'm happy with a pencil and some paper, then I finalize it in Photoshop. It is a repeating process that gradually becomes clearer, I prefer intuition but getting an image clear is a smoothing process that is often long and meticulous. What is your favorite activity when you take a break from the studio? I walk, or engage in other physical activities, such as yoga or running; or I read. |
