Artists on the Map

Guest of today - Roberta di Laudo Check her interview here https://youtu.be/1STG8sKCtUo?si=tMuBMH5yjfRVxlx_ Her work explores the body as both a symbol of self-affirmation and a personal diary, aiming to grant it dignity and weight in everyday life. By weaving sacred and cultural symbols—rooted in religion, Abruzzo’s natural landscapes, and domestic settings—she creates images that intertwine the sacred and profane, inviting viewers to reflect on the body’s meaning and purpose through a shared, yet deeply personal lens. Roberta lives and works in Torino https://www.instagram.com/robertadilaudo /

  My first guest of 2025 is Liu Shuang, a painter from Shanghai who focuses on contemporary international portraiture and the intrinsic connection between urban life and humanity. I encountered Liu Shuang’s artworks long before meeting him in person. In fact, I wrote about his artistic practice before ever seeing one of his paintings in real life. Reflecting on portraiture today and understanding the motivations behind a contemporary artist’s choice to engage with this timeless medium was both intriguing and thought-provoking. Traditional techniques and portrait painting encompass a vast and profound universe. After spending countless hours studying Liu Shuang's impressive portraits, I realized that two powerful reasons underlie his choice of this medium. First, there is the emotional and spiritual resonance a painted portrait can evoke. Unlike photography, painting conveys a deeply personal and meditative experience through brushstrokes, color choices, and composition—connecting t...