Danic Lado

Unbroken

Artist story

Transforming feelings into art with Danic Lago

interview by Karolina Barnes, art images provided by Danic Lago

Painter, textile artist and printmaker, Danic Lago, creates beautiful art collages using recycled materials and acrylics on paper or wood. Inspired by her background in fashion, Danic is skillfully fusing portraiture, nature and beauty, layering each story to form something extraordinary and inspiring. Even though Danic is based in the United Kingdom, her works have been also exhibited in Brazil, Italy and Spain.

Let’s start from the beginning. What has been your journey so far and how did you get into the art world? Having lived in Switzerland, London and Mexico, I have always been an explorer: a collector of small treasures, textures and experiences. I started work in the fashion world, specialising in trend research. The restless nature of fashion led me to experiment more with my creativity. I personally started using collage as a healing mechanism, to channel feelings into shapes and colours, all mixed in with natural and exuberant elements. Materials that I once used as sources for mood boards and

trend analysis became tools for my own self-expression - there’s an immense freedom in that. Taking inspiration from my own experiences of the world, I can create narratives through collage - and the moment where you feel that a piece is finished is hugely fulfilling, in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

You have a very interesting signature style with storytelling layers in your work, could you take us through the process you take to create your art pieces?

The inspiration of my work almost invariably starts with a protagonist: an image, look and body posture that sparks a potential for something beyond what is already there. The process from that point I can honestly not explain in words, it involves going through several textures, materials and pieces, dressing the model gradually until the final artwork emerges quite naturally. What I love the most about art is the process of making it - the act of having to be so physically in the moment cutting fragments of paper and making them fit together like puzzle pieces is almost therapeutic. I truly believe that creating art transforms feelings into something substantial that you can touch - a physical representation of your own mind at that point in time. A huge part of my art is how it is composed of several layers of elements and different media existing in harmony - I love experimenting with a diverse range of materials, I have worked with everything from taxidermy butterflies to ceramics! The creation process - with all of its twists and turns - is a big part of what makes my art interesting to look at. People are always discovering new details that they had not noticed before because they were hidden away beneath the surface.

Who and what inspires you?

I would say that my biggest inspiration is my life experience, being Brazilian and having lived in so many places across the globe has shaped who I am today, so it only makes sense to constantly pull inspiration from my own culture and those cultures that have touched me throughout the years. Having worked in fashion for so long, it would be remiss to ignore the influence that the world of fashion has had on my work, Tim Walker’s photographs in particular - which are playful but also incredibly well put together and harmonious. The portrait work of Gustav Klimt is so enchanting, the colours and textures and the way he dresses his subjects - almost an intersection of art and fashion. Music also is a huge part of my work, I always listen to music that I feel matches the pieces I create as I put them together. A huge range of things fuel my creativity, and I think that they’re all linked by love and beauty - such simple parts of life come together to breathe soul into my work, it’s magical. There’s a quote by William Blake that always stands out in my mind as well: “If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.” I think it encapsulates the concept of how we all have limitless potential to create and how the act of creation is infinite.

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Shield

Abundance

What is the concept behind your current work?

Currently, I have been working with religious and sacred artistic inspirations, not only Christian, but also African heritage with the Orishas of West African culture, which are so important in the NorthEast of Brazil, which is where I’m from. I have been savouring working with religiously-connoted materials like mosaics, stained glass and golden textiles, and they have become incredibly prominent in my recent artworks.

What is the best advice you ever received for life and business?

Always have a curious mind and don’t be afraid to try new things. Believe in your abilities and keep exploring different possibilities because if nothing else, they’ll make for good stories! Everything eventually works itself out for the best in the end.

What are your dreams, plans and aspirations?

A huge dream of mine is to have my art exhibited in the V&A. I adore spending time at the museum, walking among the exhibits and feeling inspired by all of the wonderful objects and art - it would be amazing to think that my work would be among them. Most of all, I love to see my art in people’s homes! I am so thankful to play a small part in their day to day. I am in love with what I do, and seeing my pieces around the world touching people’s lives is immensely rewarding, so I would absolutely love to have a homeware collection with my art. Things like fine bone china plates and teacups, it would be so lovely! E