INTERVIEW
LEFT Polar Express,
acrylic on canvas,
100x70cm
ABOVE Welcome,
acrylic on canvas,
100x70cm
seemingly innocuous, colourful
objects is a tragic underbelly, waiting
to be revealed. The paintings are,
in fact, a conflict at the heart of
Antonio’s work. “I normally paint
animals who are either extinct or
in danger of extinction,” he says.
“I use bullseyes all the time to
represent the threat to the creature.”
Many of the animals in the
paintings also have doors in their
chests, a device he uses as “a way
of opening into another world”, like
Alice stepping through a door intoWonderland. Other symbols of
celebration, festivity or merriment are
plentiful but serve as red herrings.
“I love the atmosphere of the
circus,” Antonio explains. “As a child
for me it was a very magical thing but
at the same time it is a real threat for
the animals. I like to mix both
concepts to explain that this is
something I love but I don’t want.”
Antonio’s priority is wildlife.
He has been fascinated by animals
since childhood, when his interest in
painting began.Hisfatherkeptbirds
Artists & Illustrators 25