Fabio Pessimo Rebora

The search for eternity through marble

• Fabio grew up immersed in the Roman Baroque
• He discovered marble in Carrara after graduating
• He was an assistant to the sculptor Igor Mitoraj

Fabio Pessimo Rebora spent his childhood in Rome, close to the remains of the great vestiges of this ancient city. The sense of eternity of art and of the human condition leave an indelible mark on him, he says. In 1992 he studied painting at the Wimbledon School of Art in London, and then attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna and in Carrara, famous in the world for its marble quarries. Here Fabio discovered marble, which preserves visible traces of the sculptor's intelligence and gestures. He began his apprenticeship in sculpture studios in Pietrasanta, first as a copyist of historical works, then as an assistant to the great sculptor Igor Mitoraj. In 2008, Fabio opened his own sculpture studio in Carrara, where he creates works of his own design, mainly on commission and site-specific.

Interview

©Rocco Bonci

©Rocco Bonci

Where do you find inspiration?

First of all in nature, in naturalism and symbolism of art. I grew up in Rome, immersed in the Baroque atmosphere. There is also the general theme of the relationship with the client.

What did you learn in Pietrasanta and Carrara?

In both places I met extraordinary traditional craftsmen, who keep alive centuries-old knowledge that is now seriously at risk of disappearing. My craft is endangered partly due to tax legislation that rewards the use of robots over apprenticeships. I learned everything from my masters.

What did you gain from your time with Igor Mitoraj?

Thanks to him I understood how an artwork can be born from a chaotic process. And cultivating chaos, without letting it submerge you, is not easy. He did not follow the usual, codified phases of realisation, but a mental project of his own. This was due to his romantic flair and great sincerity as a man.

Do you use new technologies in the design or making phase?

Not at all, I only do hand drawings on paper and direct carving work. My sculptures are the product of the relationship between my hands, eyes and head. Every action arises from millions of decisions, taken gradually, step by step: it is planning in doing.

Fabio Pessimo Rebora is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1999

Works

©Rocco Bonci

©Alberto Caselli

©Alessandro Paolini

©Alessandro Paolini

©Rocco Bonci

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