"I've always liked putting things on my head. The world is full of objects and I want to put them all on my head. That's my plan."
Sure Modern art is cute and camp and all, but if you’re looking for something a little more masc4masc then you wanna head for the Renaissance period, filled with hot bodies of those Roman & Greek gods, six packs carved out of stone.
Someone who is only too familiar with this era is Ciarla, who has taken it upon himself to recreate famous pieces in his bedroom. We spoke to him to find out more…
Ciarla, you describe yourself as a virtual character. Can you tell us more about that?
Yes, I call myself a virtual character because my pics are on the Interweb. When I’m not on the Interweb, I am just called Andrea.
Where do you exist?
I live at Maison Ciarla. But also sometimes in museums and airplane lavatories.
How did you come into existence?
I’ve always liked putting things on my head. At some point I started taking pictures, because I thought it looked good. That’s how I was born.
Do you have an ultimate goal?
The world is full of objects, and I want to put them all on my head. That’s my plan.
You have a specific aesthetic. How did you come to find it?
My aesthetic is about filling the frame with myself as much as possible. Half portrait, full portrait, double portrait, you name it – I do it all. My favourite look is called “the lonely donkey” – it’s that casual and off-guard look that I give to the camera, the look of a donkey running away from the paparazzi, if that makes sense. I think it makes the picture look more real.
Who do you look to when creating art?
I love classic portrait art – I find it so ironic, the whole Vermeer and Caravaggio…to think these people are frozen in eternity pouring milk from a jug! Other times I start from an object that is laying around in the house and then I build my look around that. It can be anything – a piece of wood board, an egg, a cleaning mop…
Do you have a favourite piece?
When Ciarla is not busy taking selfies, he makes tiny still-lifes with objects he finds lying around. It’s so relaxing – just putting things on top of each other. It’s like painting with clutter. I love these pictures, they are like Ciarla’s little pagan altars.
You use unusual materials for an artist. Do you go out of your way to find them?
Actually I use very common materials – food and bedsheets and paper scraps and cleaning tools. I have a rule – I only use stuff that is lying around in my house. But I’m also a hoarder by nature, so I have drawers full of things – from the stationery store, the supermarket, sometimes the trashcan.
You sometimes involve your friends, right?
Actually no – I take all my pictures with my phone, so I have 10 seconds to jump on the set and strike my pose. It’s a lot of exercise!
Your photos are sexy because you’re mostly naked but the images are not specifically sexy poses. Where does sex figure in your art?
Anything can be sexy! Sex is about imagination, the unexpected, trying new things and acting out your fantasies…I guess my fantasies just look different than the average sexy pose.
And how big a part does being Queer figure in your art? If at all…
Of course it plays a big part! I think being Queer means not sticking to schemes and being whoever you want to be. But I love Straight people too. I want everybody to have a good time with my pictures – Straight, Queer, whoever.
Lastly we are named after our favourite Mariah Carey song. What is your favourite Mariah Carey song?
‘Fantasy’, because it’s such a great song and because Ciarla is a sweet, sweet Fantasy baby!
