What is the best thing that I love about my work? Freedom above all, and the possibility to fulfill my need of solitude.
What is my idea of perfect happiness? Listening to The Doors’ ‘Wishful Sinful’, while riding on my old busted Mini down the Corso Unione Sovietica in Turin, at 03.00 am, on a fine morning in May. Feeling in love. Being 21.
What is my greatest fear? Illness.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I’m way too serious.
Which living persons in my profession do i most admire? Lorenzo Mattotti, Igort, Emiliano Ponzi, Beatrice Alemagna…
What is my greatest extravagance? Almost every night, before I fell asleep, I watch the first minutes of an old b/w movie, “The house of Fear”, with Basil Rathbone in the role of Sherlock Holmes.
On what occasion would I lie? What makes you think I’m not lying now?
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? All the promoting part, such as comic cons, meet-and-greets and so on… To be honest, I struggle to understand why we need to talk about books, which are usually speaking for themselves. More generally, I struggle to understand why we need to talk.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work? Whenever I realize I did a good job: that’s the moment that makes sense of it all.
If I could, what would I change about myself? Nearly everything.
What is my greatest achievement in work? A lovely compliment given to me by master artist Ferenc Pintér, when he saw some of my illustrations, many years ago.
What do the words ‘The Financial Freedom to Create’ mean to me?
I wish we could live in a world in which there’s no connection between freedom (to create) and money.
Where would I most like to live? In Iceland, but only when they’ll stop the killing of endangered fin whales.
What is my most treasured possession? My memories.
What is my most marked characteristic? Probably, my silences.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city? Although it’s not my birthplace, and I lived there for only four years, I consider Turin my “hometown”. From the ancient city to the working-class area, to the industrial suburbs, any place in Turin is a source of inspiration for me.
What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city? At home!
What books influenced my life and how? I’m going to pick two: “A starry night” (I can’t remember the name of the author), a little book I used to read and re-read endlessy, when I was a child, featuring the most important artworks by Vincent Van Gogh, and “Illuminations” by Arthur Rimbaud. The first one taught me to love a specific kind of Paint, steering me since my childhood towards a somewhat ‘impressionist’ approach.
Rimbaud, in my early teens, made me realize for the first time how powerful and beautiful Poetry, writing, could be.
Who are my favorite writers? Too hard to choose, but, at the present time, I would say Raymond Carver, Irène Nemirowsky, Italo Calvino and Mark Strand.
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? ‘Little Wing’, by Jimi Hendrix.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Snoopy by Charles Schulz.
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? The doctors working for NGO Emergency and Médecins Sans Frontières.
Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime? “The 400 blows” by François Truffaut.
What role plays art in my life and work? To quote Franco Battiato, art is “the animal which is inside of me”.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? My girlfriend.
Whom would I like to work with in 2019? With writer Andrea Camilleri and with musician Cedric Bixler-Zavala.
Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2019? I’d love to meet Manuele Fior.
What project, in 2019, am I looking forward to work on? I have several to choose from… above all, to finish my graphic novel with Oblomov Editions and to prepare my second parisian exhibition, at Galerie Glénat.
Where can you see me or my work? You can browse my portfolio in my website andreaserio.net, or follow my Instagram feed @andreaserio73; I’ll be present in person at Turin Graphic Days, next october 13th, for a one-hour live performance.
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? That’s very true. I am persuaded that an authentic passion doesn’t need to be feeded and indeed it’s feeding us throughout life.
Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story? Author Michele Montanari, cartoonist and painter Jorge Gonzalez, musician John De Leo and the band La Rappresentante di lista.
How can you contact me?
Mail me at andreaserio@hotmail.com or use the contact form in my website (www.andreaserio.net), or join me on Instagram (@andreaserio73) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/andrea.serio.5).
The Hero's Journey 