Thomas J Price, star of the Museo Novecento exhibition

Our interview with the artist who conquered Piazza della Signoria

Trust, hope and respect. The visitor’s encounter with the work of young British sculptor Thomas J Price – the subject of an exhibition at Museo Novecento, curated by Sergio Risaliti – places these three powerful words in a circle. As his works are displayed in Palazzo Vecchio and a young woman four metres tall shines in Piazza della Signoria, the words arouse genuine emotions, which are amplified during the interview. We discuss stories and connections: her tranquil and luminous gaze creates many, even on a grey, gloomy Florentine morning in early spring. Art deconstructs, even when it uses hope to denounce.

Thomas J Price

Let’s start from the end: what does it mean to you to be in Piazza della Signoria?

To me it is a very interesting moment, because I grew up with these sculptures in my eyes and mind. In addition to my personal feeling, Piazza Signoria’s historical and cultural meaning is very important. As an artist, I’m interested in questioning our society’s basic values, the way we look at the world through the lens of culture. Placing this statue here, where the Renaissance’s fundamental values and the Western world’s beauty were born, is a great privilege for me. But what I’m really interested in is its meaning, watching the impact it will have on the people looking at it, asking questions about the world around us. As far as this project is concerned, I owe a lot to Sergio Risaliti, the exhibition’s curator, who was truly wonderful because he has a very deep knowledge of Palazzo Vecchio, of the building’s historical and cultural meaning, and of the city. Sergio played an important role also because of his energy and enthusiasm: I trust him a lot because he loves my job and has a very good understanding of the context.

Who are your mentors?

Alberto Giacometti inspired me a lot in the way he saw space and perspective; Jean Tinguely because of the way he animated spaces and his use of materials and forms. I visited many museums over time: I observed Bernini’s heads, I saw classical sculptures and I’ve always been very attracted to ancient art because of the use of complex materials and themes translated into such beautiful and harmonious works.

©photo Ela Bialkowska OKNO studio

Who are the ordinary people, the subjects of your works? They are never on a pedestal… is it right?

The starting point is always an emotional point of view: the work is an emotional sculpture, the subjects of my works are fictional characters. Therefore, the sculpture represents a very personal starting point. I hope, however, that I depict people to whom we feel connected, with whom we are acquainted. Sometimes, I’m amazed at the way people look at my sculptures: they strike a pose that reflects the statue’s and imitate it. This happens because my sculptures represent what we are: common people, not heroes, not conquerors or mythical creatures. These sculptures represent us and seeing ourselves represented this way, on an enormous scale, should help us realize the power that each of us has. The more we value ourselves, the more we are willing to value other people.

In a lovely interview you said: “I’m interested in reflecting on who has the power and who is vulnerable”. What can such a reflection stir up in this historical moment?

The concept of power has always been the same throughout history. No matter the context, power is always under discussion. Monuments are still part of our lives and they are functional to strengthening this system with their grandeur, beauty and with their aspirational aspect which then becomes part of our lives. We all reinforce this system and if some people have power it is because we support them.

©photo Ela Bialkowska OKNO studio

How important is aesthetics in your works? And by aesthetics I mean clothes, hair… what do they represent?

It varies from person to person. People easily recognize details, which are important to communicate and if there is a detail that attracts your attention it means that there is a connection, that you understand that history, that culture, that person; on the contrary, if you do not catch the details, it means that you cannot relate to that story, and a lot of people cannot relate to a lot of stories because they have never been or felt included. Details are important because these fictional characters want to be valued as people, want to attract attention, and I love my characters because they are special. I hope that my statues will provide the characters I represent with the appreciation they deserve.

So does aesthetics define us?

It simply describes who we are.