If we were to imagine a new kind of painting, in which classical elements are harmoniously blended with ultra-modern components, we can not fail to consider the work of Dminc.
Dminc is a mould breaker. Here she talks to us at House of Coco and tells us more about her plans for the future…
When did you launch the brand and what was the reason behind it?!
I launched the brand in 2011, but I started painting for myself about 26 years ago. What explains the second part of the question, regarding the reason behind it. I just came to the conclusion, realizing the amazement and wonder of friends and relatives, that I could provoke the same feelings, also in unknown people. Time had come to share that enthusiasm and excitement with everyone, because I think the most pleasing contentment in life, is giving a little piece of enjoyment and optimism to as many people as possible. In a world, where Ugliness and Negative are becoming increasingly attractive, I want to remind everybody that Beauty and Positive still perfectly fit the human spirit. But I cannot consider it a job: it is a Mission…
What’s your background?
I had classical background, but to be honest my artistic education was much less than what it would normally be expected. At the very beginning I was literally kidnapped by Fashion (I still am to tell the truth), so I took part in Fashion design classes. Later, I attended the Fine Arts Institute in Geneva for one year, where I specialized in “nudes”, and next, I started drawing and oil painting classes, following the lessons of the teacher Mrs. Catherine Bourlet for two years. Everything else I know, I simply learned by living everyday and picking up as much as possible from the beauties of the Nature and from the painter I considered, and still do, as my artistic mentor: Gustav Klimt. He used to explore new fields, discovering new techniques, every time reinventing himself along with his inimitable style. He didn’t get scared to break the rules and going beyond the limits in accomplishing what he was doing. Today I’m trying to follow his path. Klimt once said: “Anyone wants to find out about me, as an artist, which is all that’s of interest, should look attentively at my pictures”. I feel I could say the same thing: all my life is in my artwork. Just look at it, and going behind the first appearance, you are able to get into my world.
I spent not hours, but days in the museums, all over the world, to admire the masterpieces of Klimt but also of worthy colleagues of his, such as Monet, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Picasso, Rodin, Camille Claudel, Schiele, Hiroshige and Hokusai, trying to learn something from who has much to teach.
How many people are involved in the company and what are they roles?
Mine is a family business, I involved my sons, my daughter, my son in law and my fiancee.
I won’t tell you, who is who, but please know, that I’m working with a director, a business consultant, a sales consultant, a public relations officer, a photographer, a web designer and a video maker.
When I have grandchildren, I’m sure I will find them something for them to do too…
If you could start over with the business, would you do anything differently?
They used to say that the greatest invention for mankind would be the time machine, to be able to cancel all the mistakes that inevitably are committed. I use to say: “Do what you have to do in order not to have any regrets”. Today, I’m doing what it takes, to have no regrets tomorrow. And this applies to everything, especially to my company. So, the answer is simply NO. If I could start all over again, I would do exactly the same things.
What is the hardest challenge you have faced since you started the company?
The hardest challenge was not something I faced and I defeated. The hardest challenge is something I am still facing and I will be again, until I am the commander of the ship. That is the fear of no longer having the strength to fight. Because success is enjoyable but is dangerous too…As another master of mine taught me: “when you get famous,you get civilized and lose your eyes of tiger”. But I’m also aware of something else: that fear has to struggle a lot before it succeeds in prevailing against me!!
Tell us one fact about you that people wouldn’t know…
Ok, I’m going to say something that nobody would guess: I am a superb cook, even more I could be a chef in all Michelin starred restaurants! The very few people who know that, could sincerely confirm! On the other hand, when I was a child, I never played with dolls and on each Christmas I was asking to Santa Claus to bring me a little kitchen and some food to cook.
2016 is here, where do you plan on taking the brand?
Right now, I’m taking my brand in Milan in the very heart of Fashion District, just in front of Versace Palace. As I told you before, Fashion is a great source of inspiration to me and being able “to breath” it daily, is a gift I wished to do to myself and above all to my Art. After that, there are no limits…there always is a way if you are willing to walk it. I made my choice, I don’t want to run it, I want to fly it!
To date, what has been the highlight since launching?
I would like to reply to this question reporting three moments that made me feel as if my dream was coming true.
First one, was during Art Basel Miami Week two years ago, when a girl in tears while looking at “Magic”, a big blue canvas of “My Sea Series”, approached me and said: “This is more stunning than our real sea, thank you for giving me such an emotion!”
Second, occurred during the days of Asia Contemporary Art Show in Hong Kong, last year, when an art critic, after watching carefully all the canvases of mine, told me with the innocence of a child: “ These artworks couldn’t be copied even by Chinese!”
Third highlight so far, is going to happen next month, when my woks will be published in February issue of Vogue UK.!
Please, allow me just a final reflection about these three episodes: they were not chosen by chance, but because deeply reveal myself and the spirit of my company: making as many people as possible fantasize and even dream with something really unique…
Which city do you feel most at home in, London, Paris or New York?
I love the three of them, but when it comes to talk about feeling most at home, I pick New York.
Three beauty products you can’t leave the house without?
I could leave the house without my wallet, my I.D., even without my house keys, but never without Yves Saint Laurent lipstick, Chanel eyeliner, Lamcôme precision corrector. As you see I can survive with little!!
Style means…?
Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. It overcome Fashion because, the latter changes four time a year, Style is something that remains perpetual: either you have it or you don’t! My Style is class, elegance and unconventionality.
Best thing about London to you?
My son Federico, who works for the British Parliament!
Statement shoe or statement bag?
No doubt about it: statement shoe all life long! I put together a collection of 379 shoes and I’m going to give a party when I reach 400.
Among my favourite brands: Versace, Fendi, Richmond and Paciotti, but also Texan boots decorated with thousand of Swarovski crystals that even J.R. Ewing would go bananas for
Favourite love song?
“Grande Amore” by “Il Volo”!
Best place for a coffee?
Milan, via Montenapoleone, “bar pasticceria Cova”: taste their coffee, you will forget all the others….
Most memorable piece of advice given to you?
My father. Once he told me: “Delfina please remember, when you need a hand, you’ll always find it at the bottom of your arm.
Guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is believing I am someone like Wonder Woman, that, in my field, means an extraordinary human being built to create and paint endlessly. This would be my pleasure….my guilt is that I get tired, hungry, thirsty like everyone else…so I was forced to place a couch, a refrigerator, and a coffee machine in my atelier…you never know what may happen after have been painting for 12 hours
If you could spend 24 hours in anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If I were so lucky to get materialized this wish, I would choose to spend 24 hours in Tibet. And since when we talk about desires, we have to exaggerate, I want to elect my partner too, that would be the Dalai Lama.
In future, how do you plan on expanding the company?
Since fashion has always been an inspiration for me, I would like to expand the company starting collaboration with Fashion Brands. It is a fact that Fashion and Art are binding more and more their own destinies. Just to mention a famous case, I want to remind the partnership between Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton, but the list of examples could be very long.
Where can people find out more?
People can find out more about me and what I do, visiting my web site www.dminc.it
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