PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

GIULIA FILIPPI

// Giulia is an Italian artist who studied Visual Arts at the European Institute of Design (IED) in Milan. In her artworks, she addresses sensitive and often taboo topics such as mental health, inclusion, and the impact of societal pressures. Rather than dwelling on negativity, Giulia seeks to challenge conventional perspectives by transforming these issues into sources of strength, humor, and even beauty. Her self-portrait series “Perfectly Imperfect” explores self-reflection and challenges societal norms.

Following her visual arts studies, she relocated to Berlin, where she immersed herself in the city’s vibrant cultural scene, studying German, photography, and pursuing career-oriented training and coaching. This period saw her working as a freelance illustrator and model while also gaining experience in art galleries and fashion agencies.

Giulia has a prolific artistic career, having organized numerous art exhibitions and won several international competitions. Her artworks have been showcased and published in a wide range of countries, including Italy, Austria, Germany, Portugal, the United States, Finland, Great Britain, the Arab Emirates, France, China, Belgium, Russia, Canada, South Korea, and even the Metaverse.

In 2017, Giulia further expanded her artistic repertoire by pursuing studies in Graphic, Digital Design & Communication in Vicenza, Italy. Today, she dedicates her practice to the realm of digital art and visual design.

“An artwork is always a confession.”

Umberto Ecco

What draws you to the arts?

For me Art is a physical need, like breathing and eating. I can’t help it. It’s my claim to freedom, reality and comfort. In my artworks I always deal with sensitive topics such as mental health, inclusion, bullying, fears, failure, self-esteem, aesthetic standards and so on, which concern and touch in some way all human beings on a global level, but often and willingly still considered taboo by our society. We talk about it a little more than in the past but perhaps not enough and the changes are slow. What I try to do is to make a difference with my work and treat these topics in a new way: I love reversing the point of view, in order to turn negative things into a plus, strength and sometimes into something funny too. For this reason and because art is able to touch the humanity inside each of us, create connections and bring people together, I would love to reach a wider audience, with the hope of having an alternative, positive and significant impact, of awakening as many consciences as possible, creating dialogue and making it clear that we can laugh at our mistakes, difficult experiences and imperfections and transform them into something very powerful.

What do you like best about this project?

After many years of physical and verbal violence, and then serious psycho-physical effects with which I had to fight to take my life back into my own hands, I made my art not only a therapy, but also a job. Self-portrait is the mirror-stage, it is the moment of the identification, of the acceptance of my image.

Giulia’s artistic practice centers around a profound exploration of imperfection and self-acceptance. Her logo, a broken circle, serves as a visual metaphor for this concept, reflecting both her own identity and her perception of the world. This symbol embodies her philosophy: “I try to find beauty in things that are imperfect. Like me.”

For years, Giulia felt dissatisfied with the societal pressure to achieve perfection in all aspects of life – appearance, thoughts, career, and family. However, she has learned to embrace her imperfections, transforming them into a source of strength and artistic inspiration.

This philosophy extends into her digital art practice. Giulia challenges the pervasive notion of perfection in the digital realm, deliberately distorting pre-established aesthetics and subverting idealized representations. Through the manipulation of images and the incorporation of vibrant colors, she creates a surreal and dreamlike environment where she can feel more comfortable, free, and authentic.

Her self-portraiture serves as a central element in this exploration, allowing her to navigate the complexities of self-perception and challenge societal expectations. By embracing her imperfections and utilizing digital art as a means of self-expression, Giulia creates a unique and powerful visual language that resonates with the contemporary human experience. By re-framing sensitive subjects, she aims to foster a more open and honest dialogue around these important issues.

Click on the photos to see the original larger version. Images may be cropped for layout.