tommaso tugNoli

The works I have produced for the course are a combination of artworks conveyed through sculpture, painting and drawing, and often a mixture of two of the means. It is clear that in most pieces there is an influence, which refers to an artist. The most significant influences are from Aubrey Beardsley, Giò Pomodoro and Mimmo Rotella. Most of my pieces in fact embrace the influence of these artists with the recurring motif of the teapot head. It is hence rather simple to identify the connection between the pieces. The project begins as a very simple teapot, which takes many transformations, to then become the centre of attention in a human figure that may be a sultan or simply a model. My aim was to play with the idea of perfection aesthetically although there is always an unusual ingredient in the potion.

The aim I had using the influence of Giò Pomodoro was to give the idea of the irregular patterns on the rocks used to create the Easter Island ‘Moai’ sculptures. I wanted to emphasise the irregular rough texture by embracing Pomodoro’s sculpture figures and imitating the patterns with graphite over a painting.

Aubrey Beardsley inspired an opposite influence to Pomodoro’s. I wanted to imitate his use of black lines, which are few but create a sense of flow. Also, being an illustrator I was inspired by his illustration of ‘Ali Baba’ which I distorted to make it appear as the cover of an important magazine and switching the head with my teapot. Mimmo Rotella, on the other hand, inspired the thought of creating cinema posters and ripping them. I decided to embrace his influence as I find him an interesting artist conceptually and I am very passionate about Cinema.

After studying her A Levels at the Sir James Henderson School, Kate decided to remain in Milan to study a BA in Fine Art Painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti Di Brera. After graduating with a 1:1, Kate returned to the UK to complete her Masters in Fine Art at the UCA in Canterbury. Whilst studying her MA, Kate began to assist with the Foundation Art course taught at the University and to visit local secondary schools to help examination groups. This then encouraged her decision to qualify as a teacher in 2009 at the Canterbury Christ Church University. She has since balanced her teaching career and her AQA Art examiner role, with her life as an artist, exhibiting in the North of Italy and the South East of England. Kate has now taken over the responsibility for Head of Art at the BSM, as well as the school yearbook.