FLAVIO LUCCHINI – The artist who plays with children's cube
“For 40 years I had a house and lived in Paris and, over the last 10, I had been dwelling in St. Germain. Here, next to my place there was, and I think there still is, a beautiful toy shop. Not only common and commercial toys, but also intelligent and unusual ones, created by real artists who take inspiration from all the world around us, from traditional to star wars, to cars and many more things that kids see every day. Not to mention what creatives invent for little girls. I have always had a particular interest in childhood, since when, as a university student, along with a friend with a philosophy degree, I did experiments on children art in a nursery school in Mantova. It was the 40’s. Wandering around this shop, I was stunned by what you can buy.
Impossible not to smile, thinking about how candid kids are in front of these temptations. All things created by adults for the little ones. Creatives that become kids again to fulfill kids’ dreams, and, I think, just as happy for their own ideas. Dreams and poetry, are difficult to be found in today’s art. You must to go back to Marc Chagall (1887-1985) to “feel” the poetry of its musicians, of the circus, of its mystic and humorous fairy-tale world. Or to Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985) an artist who believed that academic values are an obstacle for the human to express himself in an original and personal way.
Refusing genres and codes, giving up any style has been his choice for many years. Going back to my shop, I discovered that toy “creatives” are often real artists who use the language and forms of contemporary art as a source of inspiration. I too gladly became a kid again.
I invented variations of the old beloved “wood constructions toys” to invent totems reminiscent of fashion and models through kids’ eyes. I see those little toys either small or very big as huge sculptures to be placed outdoor. Through my kid’s eye, the larger they are the more fantastic, colorful and joyful they become. Enough with sadness. I thought of Picasso who was always smiling. Everything he did was a game.” – Flavio Lucchini
Flavio Lucchini attained art after a life in fashion as art-director, creator of the most important fashion magazines (Amica, Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue, Moda, Donna…), talent scout of top stylists and creatives. His research is focused around women dress, metaphor of the contemporary society’s new values and of the image mythology. He took part with solo and collective exhibitions to important International exhibitions and to the 54th Art Biennale in Venice.