1. Before speaking directly with you, can you introduce us to Didi? Who is he and how was he born?
Didi is a fantasy character: I sketched him on my notes as a fellow student, without a precise name but with his characteristic 4 hair tuft and his sneakers.
It is only after a few years, in 2008, that, observing my 3 children had in the meantime, funny ideas were born such as a place of birth (a soap bubble), the name Didi (nickname of my third daughter Diletta) and the creation, with Didi protagonist, of a series of children’s books (“Didi my imaginary friend … and fear”; “… and friends in the world”; “… and separation”) and a children’s book (“Accept the e_challenge”);
2. What were your studies and what work do you do today?
Born and graduated in Belluno, I continue my studies in Milan at the IED, European Institute of Design, and I work for 10 years in the world of creative and editorial graphics.
After moving to Treviso, I made graphic designs for books for elementary schools.
With Didi I created emotion workshops in kindergartens and I added Didi to social networks so that it became a “piece of paper” that arouses tenderness with its small daily actions.
3. Didi pantry hugs, what about you? Are you an affectionate person?
I believe that the idea of creating hugs with Didi is precisely my desire to embrace, I am very affectionate and I make Didi do what I would like to do.
4. What is your dream in the drawer?
I have already realized many dreams in my drawer, and therefore I consider myself very lucky but I admit that a big dream is to make Didi become a positive viral character, a Didi symbol of love in the world!
5. Your place of the heart? An anecdote related to it?
I don’t have a particular place, for every place I have visited I have a good memory! A place of the metaphorical heart is the embrace of my loved ones, I feel so comfortable when I’m inside that I don’t want to leave anymore.
6.Your 3 favorite songs?
Michael Jackson’s “Heal the world”
Queen’s “Love of my life”
“Candle in the wind” by Elton John
These are three songs that already startle my heart.
7. What are the things that make you happy? What about Didi?
It makes me happy to draw while listening to music, to walk with your nose up and smell the spring air!
Didi likes to be in my hand, to receive many likes and many affectionate comments.
8. What do you try to express in your drawings? How much of you is there in Didi?
I try to convey the emotions of a simple soul; the fact that Didi expresses herself without words makes him a sensitive universal creature. There is a lot of me in him, that desire to expose himself without disturbing.
9. Through your imaginary friend you often try to convey important messages, without ever being banal. What are the themes that are most dear to you?
The theme of the environmental crisis is very strong, but also all those social issues that are on the side of the weakest and most defenseless. If a drop of water falls on Didi it will be ruined, erased: as I preserve its fragility, so my intent is to support, with small messages, human fragility.
10. If you could get into a painting, which one would you like to get into?
I love Claude Monet and would gladly enter one of his works as “Walk on the cliff”.
11. You tend to show yourself little. Why?
I stand behind the scenes, only my hand with a ring on my thumb often appears; I want attention to be on Didi and I like to create curiosity about her secret mom.
12. You live in Treviso. Can you tell us a little about your city? Strengths and weaknesses?
My hometown is Belluno, then I lived 10 years in Milan and now I live in Treviso. I elected Treviso as a city of the heart because, when I visited it one day, I fell in love with it. Treviso is a small city of art, surrounded by water, a small Venice; and still today living here I find more strengths than flaws.
13. A phrase that represents you?
A phrase that represents me is a Walt Disney phrase: “If you can dream it you can do it” and I continue to dream!
14. What was your greatest job satisfaction?
When at my first presentation of Didi’s books I felt the affection and participation of the public who believed in me and in my project.
15. How do you deal with life’s difficulties?
I face the difficulties of life by confronting myself with the people who love me, with dialogue and always externalizing what I feel because it is union that makes strength.
16. What do you think are the fundamental qualities to be successful?
I believe that the fundamental qualities for success are determination, perseverance, respect and humility.
17. Who is your favorite artist?
I love Keith Haring very much.
18. An era in which you would have liked to live?
Each era has a side that fascinates me but my time is so “comfortable” that I could not wish for better.
19. A promise never kept?
I never made promises just to not have to be unable to keep them.
20. Good resolutions for 2020?
This interview exposed me better than a session with the psychologist, and this last question makes me understand the importance of my artistic project.
I have transferred to this little “piece of paper” the emotions that my children have given me and that over the years have made it part of my family; Didi has proved to be a magnet of friendship in the world; the birth of collaborations and contacts with people I never imagined I would know.
Meetings with important artists, with designers, with show business people, with humble people, full of wonderful projects towards those who are more unfortunate.
All this makes me understand that in 2020 the “Didi project” will not have to stop but continue to move forward to enter more and more people’s hearts.
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