What does it mean to be human?
I strive to analyze the connectivity between people, ideas, and moments in a ceaseless attempt to find what is significant in ones’ existence. Creating art allows me to delve into the crevices of profound human emotion, to display struggle, but also empowerment, to cherish the sacredness and power in femininity, and to strip away the superficial in order to make room for unclouded introspection.
An innate desire calls me to search for deeper meaning in human reality through the gateways of visual and emotional observation. Life taught me to value my eyesight from a young age; to notice and to search for discrepancies and connections in what the eyes see and the soul perceives. My work, both painting and performance, have always been ingrained with ideas of feminine instinct, vision, intuition, as well as a hunger for liberation. I explore how I can take up space in the world, while acknowledging that the body is only a shape to contain our mind and spirit. Contrary to historical uses of women in art, for me, both movement and figurative painting use the female body and its capabilities to draw attention to more meaningful wonderings outside the physical; recognizing its beauty and transformability, but also its façade like quality and impermanence.
The Red Thread Series is a growing collection of performances that comments on the intricate web of connections within oneself and with others. The red thread is a filament of the soul visualized; a strong symbol of ‘connection’ across many cultures. This project explores the metaphoric possibilities of the red string and its potential to be manipulated and transformed, giving it life in a physical sense that it wouldn’t otherwise possess. Emotional links become visible and tangible, giving form to feeling.
Artist Bio:
Letizia Dotto is a Canadian-Italian multidisciplinary artist from Vancouver. In 2019, after nearly two decades in the world of ballet and contemporary dance, Letizia moved on from her career with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet to pursue one in the visual arts. After attending arts theory courses at Emily Carr University (Vancouver), she moved to Florence, Italy in 2020 to study classical art techniques (painting, drawing, and sculpture). Letizia joined Accademia D’Arte Firenze in 2022 as a teacher of painting. She currently resides in Siracusa, Sicily and conducts workshops and lessons on a freelance basis. During her working career as an artist, Letizia has continued a personal exploration of intuitive movement, performance art, improvisation, and other forms of dance. Her production of paintings and performances is ongoing as she continues to participate in exhibitions both locally and abroad, investigating themes of femininity, emotion, vision, and self-reflection.
2024 Exhibitions:
Madonnari Contemporanei (Palazzo Acreide, Italy; September ‘24)
MAXXI Roma (RUFA Lab by Marta Jovanovic; July ‘24) Nona (performance; 40 min)
Tiny Art Space (Amsterdam, Netherlands; May ‘24)
Liget Gallery (Budapest, Hungary; March ‘24) Heartstrings (performance; 12 minutes)
Donna Oggi – Gadarte Gallery (Florence, Italy; March ‘24)
Trasmissioni – Il Loggiato del Pellegrino (Impruneta, Italy; January ‘24)
Socials:
Instagram (painting): @letiziadottoart
Instagram (performance): @letiziadotto
Facebook: Letizia Dotto Art