Nature is You Art Project (2020)
This project developed during the months of the lockdown in 2020. The online exhibition aimed to explore the connection that we have with Mother Nature and included the work of many professional and amateur artists based in Scotland,
This art project started with the desire to generate a creative wave that could support us all through this time of change and transition. It wished to create a moment of reflection on the relationship that we have with the natural environment and invites us all to take responsibility for our world.
I AM AN ARTIST, I AM FREE (2019)
(Participatory artwork)
During an open studio event, I welcomed the audience to express themselves creatively and paint on a long sheet of paper. Sound healing music was playing live in the background and assisted the experience. It was interesting to notice that the creative invitation stirred up many things inside participants. Whether they did choose to interact with the piece or preferred not to, they all had the chance to explore their relationship with the creative process. I include the label invitation below.
The invitation is share your creativity with the world and to recognize that it is there. It was there when you were a child and it is there right now. During this experience, some resistance might come up. Whatever happens inside remember to smile, and to be kind with yourself.
This piece of art starts with you, with any line, colour, or shape you wish to include onto the paper. Notice how you feel when you hold the paintbrush within your hand. Observe yourself from a little distance, then observe yourself from within.
There is no right or wrong way to explore the paper in front of you. There is no need to have a subject in mind, or a vision. Allow the colours to call your attention, allow the hand to freely move across the paper. You can follow the drawing guidelines or do your own thing. You don’t need to remain within the lines. You are in charge!
Hands Through (2017)
Mixed Media – Photo Collage on MDF Board, Clear Acrylic Sheet, Glue, Acrylic Paint 10 x 12 cm (Original work 50 x 50 cm)
Participatory art project developed for Imago Mundi, an International art project http://www.imagomundiart.com/artworks/elisa-guietti-hands-through
We are all the same, we know that, but very often we forget the meaning behind this sentence. It is a simple but powerful principle, that if constantly applied to our lives could help us to develop and sustain a non-judgemental approach towards every human being.
The surface of the board, covered by a collage of hand marks, shows the creative contribution of the audience/ participants. People from different countries (Ireland, England, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Japan) and life stories have been actively engaged in the process of art making and contributed to the creation of the piece. The hand marks remind us of the unity and humanness that defines us all.
Art needs to eat (2016)
This project was developed for the duo exhibition and site installation Crux. The exhibition discussed the impact of art on our society, and also explored possible ways to overcome the challenges of emergent artists and freelancers. Ultimately, the overall process aimed to generate individual and collective awareness.
LEAFLETS TEXT: Art is a profession. It requires passion, skills, and commitment, like any other job. Creativity is an important source for the development of our society and it should always be rewarded…So why artists often struggle to survive? Why do they often need to have a second job in order to pay their bills? Why the image of the “starving artist” is still so deeply rooted in our minds that influence our actions and beliefs?
My work wanted to question our society, our way of living and influencing our reality. It explored the artist’s role and condition as a reflection of our cultural and personal identity.
The artist’s role is changing, and positive perceptions and dynamics within the art world are arising. However, making a living with art is still, for many artists, quite a complex matter. Reasons for this can be several, but often, there is a limitational imprint within our belief system.
The arts can help us understand our humanity and the historical conditions of our society. They can draw us into thinking and change. We can connect with our art practices to confront personal, social or political issues. We can explore the world as it is and receive a vision of how it could be.
This work acted as an artist’s manifest and symbol of awareness and transformation. The surface of the canvas was covered by a collage made with the leaflets (Art Needs to Eat). By pouring the paint on this first layer, I intended to underline the ability of the creative process to transmute and elevate experiences and realities.
The final piece, part of the Crux exhibition, was exhibited within the window display of an empty shop in a shopping centre. The collaborative exhibition and installation was developed with the artist Nadiaki Der, The Image Collective, writer Fern Marshall and art curator Ana Gonzalez Chouchino.
Mixed Media, Collage and Acrylic Paint on Canvas 135 x 100 cm
Time to Change Art Project (2015)
In 2015, with the support of a great team of collaborators, I developed a project called Time to Change. 
The project explored feelings and perceptions about the European Crisis. After creating a personal response to the topic, shown during an exhibition in Italy (Paratissima 2014), I invited other artists to do the same and express their opinions about the situation through the arts. The project wanted to generate awareness and understanding and spread a sense of action and possibility.
In collaboration with several local and international partners, the project involved emergent and professional artists. During the Edinburgh exhibition, in partnership with the Tent Gallery, Syn Festival, Fotomovimiento, Cinema dal Basso, and Madre in Italy, visitors had the chance to enjoy a range of works from Scottish and International artists as well as a great selection of short films from Italy, Spain, France, Ukraine, and Uk. S
everal partners from Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, and Ireland have also shown an interest in hosting and sponsoring the exhibition. More information on the project can be found at www.timetochangeproject.altervista.org
Art for changes 