LUCA FEDERICI

Luca Federici: Study for performance for camera, 2015 (Photo: Peter Wallis)

Luca's work involves the living body as inspiration, as narrative, as canvas. It is an intimate and decidedly physical approach, his work often reveals much more than it hides.

Luca believes that our bodies are our story, that they show the trials, tribulations, and joys of that story. Rather than seeing ourselves as trapped within a bag of bones, a flesh tube, a mortal physical vessel with an expiry date, it would be better to see ourselves within a vessel that suits its purpose, that allows us to experience physical life in its fullness.

Luca is well known for his uncompromising work involving his own body. His performance pieces were particularly influenced by the fetish underground scene. By introducing BDSM practices into his work such as whipping, wrapping, wax play, piercing, and more, Luca was able to explore that thin line between pleasure and pain, a line that many will not acknowledge as being an integral part of our humanity, but it is one which is nevertheless there, and one that is definitely integral to who we are.

Luca Federici: Cut, 2014 (oil on canvas)

Luca Federici: Marks, photos, drawing and red colour (body painting) on the wall, trace of my performance, 2015

Recently, Luca has been working on a series of paintings that explore the fragility of the body, particularly where it connects with the fragility of being human. More so, it is the interest and concern he has for those being at the brunt of aggression against any form of 'diversity' from the 'norm' that features in this new exploratory work.

Luca sees this series of paintings as compositions that focus on individuals who have suffered from a range of physical acts, from being wounded to being murdered because of their sexual orientation, because of their religion, because of their conscience, and more. 

He is particularly interested in projecting some of the injustices and real suffering that many in the gay community still experience as a daily fact. 

Luca Federici: Crucifixion Triptych (right panel), 2015 (oil on canvas)

Luca Federici: Crucifixion Triptych (central panel), 2015 (oil on canvas)

Luca Federici: Crucifixion Triptych (left panel), 2015 (oil on canvas)

Although much has been done in parts of the world to encourage communities to be more inclusive, to expand tolerance and acceptance of human 'diversity', much of the planet is still openly hostile to change and certainly hostile to the inclusion of any groups not considered to be 'normal'.

It is important that we incorporate reality into the world we live in, that although 'liberal' parts of the world may well pat themselves on the back for their open and inclusive agenda, true diversity is still a long way off and hate crimes are still common, as are counter agendas that would limit and marginalise diversity. That artists like Luca are willing to publicly address these issues, makes contemporary art part of the debate, part of the change for the future, puts them in the frontline for needed change, recognition, movement towards a better future.

Although Luca's new painting project, which has the probable title of Till Death Do Us Part, is absorbing for him, it doesn't mean that his stunning performance work will no longer be seen. 

Luca Federici: Revelation-Passage, performance, 2015

Luca Federici: Revelation-Passage, performance, 2015

He is at present working on a performance piece for camera entitled You Are Here. The performance will entail a collaborator cutting Luca's skin and writing words in their phonetic symbols that will indicate the fragility of the body and the dangers it faces through its life. We live always on the edge of minor or major trauma or annihilation. The work will be submitted for the open call for the new Balaclava.Q project that deals with Queer Abstraction and Activism.

Luca Federici: Glittering Blood, performance, 2015

Luca Federici: Self Portrait With Purple Background, 2012 (oil on canvas)


All work is copyrighted to the artist. Please ask permission before sharing imagery. Thank you.