Interview #2: Giulia Canevari
I’m delighted this month to be talking with botanical painter and biodynamic flower grower Giulia Canevari. Giulia is originally from Italy and is living in county Clare.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into art and gardening?
Hi ya! My appreciation of nature started when I was really small but as I come from Milan, a big city in Italy, I wasn't so much into it until I came to Dublin. I was cycling every day and made trips to Westmeath, Carlow, Dundalk, Kildare... From there I would visit gardens and sketch their beautiful flowers... until I decided to study botanical art in IADT in Dun Laoghaire. I first got a degree in Illustration and Multimedia Animation in Milan, studied and worked as graphic designer and then I was so fed up of hours at the computer that I just changed my life drastically.
Painting made me appreciate nature so much I decided to study organic horticulture and worked in a few farm and gardens, until I am here experimenting with growing my own flowers. My work is connection with nature and our close relationship..
How has this last year impacted your creativity/outlook? Have you gained any insights or created any new work?
Last year I literally froze. My need of being more connected to people and Italy was already increasing the year before the pandemic started. I started planning a lot of botanical art workshops between Italy, Co. Clare and other places in Ireland. I was ready to step into this new journey and it all stopped. I decided to stop everything I was doing, I procrastinated a lot, read lots of books about flower growing (I worked as an organic vegetable grower in the past 5 years, whilst being an artist and doing workshops) started growing flowers, as me and my partner have our own land in between Corofin and Inagh... and gave it a try. The happiness I could see from people receiving the bunches made me feel better and I made small steps which improved my mental health.
What awakens life in you and where do you draw inspiration from?
Ha! Travelling, knowing new people, moving... is what keeps me going. But also reading, looking at picture books, listening to music and singing makes me feel alive. Going to exhibitions and nature walks, gardens is where I get all of my inspiration.
What does art/gardening teach you about yourself? and the world?
Beautiful question. Every time I am in a field or in nature I keep thinking of new messages I get from the plants around me. If I am worried, anxious or I have negative feelings usually after an hour working with the soil and getting my hands dirty, the mind starts shedding its old patterns like worm castings... going back to the ground. Neurones are electrical excitable cells that I believe can be stimulated by the frequencies of the movements of the heart... by walking or by listening to the sounds of nature and its rhythm, I truly believe we can heal, at least our minds.
Do you have any daily rituals or routines to get your creativity flowing?
Maybe I do but I don't know how positive this is... I tend to send lots of voice messages or calls to friends in Italy and friends in Ireland to share all the thoughts I have. I am not very good at listening to my own head until I speak out. Usually when all the worries and ideas are out I feel ready to be.
How do you take care of yourself when you are feeling a bit blah, blocked or uninspired?
Making herbal teas, weeding with no rush, talking to friends and family (mostly) are all things I do to feel better. When I am blocked I tidy up around me, cause I am an awful mess and often it reflects the mind. If I am uninspired I let it be until it comes up on its own time or I push myself into painting anything and that helps me to get in the zone.
What do you enjoy most about food? Do you have any favourite ingredients or recipes?
I love pretty much anything about food. Ok. My super simple favourite snack I am having lately is getting a little mug/cup, fill it up with the best olive oil you can possibly find, add some balsamic vinegar and sea salt, cut a bunch of Florence fennel (I am addicted to it, its so refreshing!), fresh carrots, celery, radishes picked on the day... and cut them in slices dipping them in the sauce you just made. It's so simple but on a warm day it's the perfect aperitivo... and you can drink some bitter soda or something nice with it.
Can you share with us any books, podcasts or music that are currently inspiring you?
I just discovered the singer Che Aimee Dorval, I love her voice and songs...
I am reading "If Women Rose Rooted" from Sharon Blackie. Just started.
A very good book to start flower farming in Ireland is "The Flower Farmer's Year: How to Grow Cut Flowers for Pleasure and Profit" by Georgie Newbery. It gives a good idea of what flowers you can start with and a good reminder to start small!
Another plant-book I love is by Stefano Mancuso called "Plant Revolution”. It’s about building a society inspired by mycelium. It's not fiction, it's science. Love it.
Do you have any future creative projects plans/dreams?
At the moment me and Thalli Foods are doing a project together: we will have a calendar coming up hopefully in September, for 2022. Surprise!
Dreams... my parter Martin and I designed our strawbales house a year ago and we are still waiting to get planning permission. This will determine a lot of things for our future.
Always dreaming and doing collaborations but for now that's all I can say! ;)
May 2021