Q1. What was the very first project you worked on as a registrar?
It was a small group exhibition of contemporary artists in November-December 2013 at Massimo De Carlo in London. I remember my first shipment very well: a simple painting from Milan to London, and I had no idea of how to do it!
Q2. What is the strangest thing you ever had to ship?
Toilets! For an artist's project, I needed to find unfinished, unglazed, commercial toilets in China and ship them to the artist's workshop in the middle of nowhere in Mexico, then transport them to Europe for an exhibition. Go and try to explain to the Mexican Customs Office how a toilet magically turned into an artwork... It's been quite an experience!
Q3. What do you like the most about your job?
The challenge of respecting deadlines and high standards, the exact timetables and the people. I worked with the most amazing people in the art world!
Q4. What do you like the least?
People who forget their good manners, don't keep their word and are willing to step all over their teams to move forward in their career ladders. Thankfully, they're not many, but I met my fair share of them.
Q5. What's your favourite art fair?
The VOLTA Show in Basel and TEFAF in Maastricht.
Q6. Who are your favourite artists?
I admire many contemporary, living artists that I also try to support whenever I can. Ever since I was a teenager, my favourite artists from times past have been Johannes Vermeer and Berthe Morisot.
Q7. What's your favourite quote?
"A woman's best protection is a little money of her own", by Clare Boothe Luce. If you're wondering, yes, I feel very strongly about women's financial literacy. Another quote I really like is: "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice", by John Templeton. Simple, but true.
Q8. What was a strong "aha"-moment in your career?
A few years back I met the curator of an important private art collection. On her desk were stapled dozens of invitation cards for exhibition openings and exclusive events. In other words: the type of invitation that I would have loved to receive back then and, of course, I never got. I was impressed and let her know. She replied almost dismissively: "Oh, don't be impressed. They don't invite me because of my great personality, they invite me because of the position I cover within the collection. As soon as I quit this job, they will forget about me". I thought she was very wise. I had never seen the situation from this perspective. It was a great "aha-moment" for me.
Q9. What do you do in your free time?
I love spending time outdoors gardening, hiking or camping. I also enjoy cooking, blogging, diving and travelling to seaside destinations.
Q10. What's your favourite country for holidays?
Difficult to say. Italy and India are definitely in my top 5. Both places inspire me!
Q11. And your favourite city?
Probably London. I lived there for 3 years between 2013-2015. Although I generally dislike large cities, I always felt at home there and love everything about it.
Q12. Are you a morning or night person?
Definitely a morning person.
Q13. Coffee or tea?
Tea. I don't mind coffee, but I don't really drink it, otherwise I spin around like a crazy firework for the rest of the day.
Q14. Which book is on your night stand right now?
"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and several episodes of the Italian comics "Diabolik" (one is never too old to read Diabolik!).
Q15. What's your favourite TV show?
The first that comes to my mind is "The Big Bang Theory". Though I recently watched the Netflix series "Self-Made" and I loved it! My husband still wonders how my Netflix account has a film category for me called "Movies with Strong Women in the Leading Role"... haha!
Q16. What is something that always makes you smile?
Coming home to my husband after a long working day and finding out that he bought my favourite chocolate, ice cream or berries to cheer me up. My baby's cutest smile when he sees me and my fluffy red cat just being a weirdo.
Q17. What do you spend the most money on?
Travels and seeds for my vegetable garden.
Q18. What is your strangest irrational fear?
I wouldn't call it irrational, but I really don't like being too close to air balloons. Yes, those innocent colourful balloons that are so popular at birthday parties. One of them exploded right on my face when I was a kid. Ever since I try to keep a safe distance between us.
Q19. Would you rather win the lottery or work the perfect job?
Both. If I won the lottery, I wouldn't tell anyone and I would continue working.
Q20. If you could pursue further education, what would that be?
I would love to get a license to be able to work as an Airport Supervisor for fine art shipments, work for a couple of months as an art handler or carpenter to learn more about their job, or become a consultant for safety and security on the workplace in the art industry. Safety and security is a topic I care about a lot, as I always feel very much responsible for the wellbeing of my team.
Kommentare