What is the best thing that I love about my work? The opportunity to transform personal emotions into universal messages, in which others can recognize themselves, recognize part of their own history and discover part of their own identity.

Picture credits: Stefano Ceretti 

What is my idea of happiness? To be at peace in any situation… knowing you are doing the right thing at the right time.

What is my greatest fear? Don’t be able to face properly my own fears and slow down my life to my own comfort zone.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? Many… the anxiety that sometimes leads me to seek approval. Anger management: I catch fire easily… a little laziness and inconstancy… but the latter are very useful for creativity!

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? Many artist, well know… Kappor, Koons, Cattelan, Pistoletto… or friends… Marco Veronese, Lorenzo Puglisi, Dado Shapira… But I’m not a good fan. In general, I am inclined to sincerely admire people capable of being coherent and faithful to their ideas with actions.

Picture credits: Stefano Ceretti 

What is my greatest extravagance? Try to be normal in world of people who try to be special at any cost. It’s the life I try to live to the fullest in all its opportunities my extravagance.

On what occasion would I lie? The one I later regret… I don’t believe in lies, but in truths told at the right time. If I’m in trouble, I’d rather omit it, but I have a hard time lying.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? The constructed but empty conventions and attitudes of some people who frequent the art world. It is in authenticity and in the courage to accept it, however difficult it may be, that the meaning of life lies.

Picture credits: Stefano Ceretti 

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? After the Bocelli concert, with my sculpture on the stage, when I picked up my 2 and a half year old son Leone and took him around the stage, among the exceptional protagonists of the evening… But then
speaking I remember my first participation in the Venice Biennale of Art still with my mother Denise still alive… or when I was a speaker at TEDxBiella… or the appointment as Cavaliere della Repubblica Italiana… there are too many good moments, but for me the important thing is sharing with the people who contributed and with my loved ones! It is never just a personal moment but a shared one.

If I could, what would I change about myself? The tendency to listen too much to the people I love. Not always is the right things for me. Than over time this attitude can creates tensions, disappointed expectations, frustrations, anger…

What is my greatest achievement in work? Many. The sculpture “Coke Its Me – 100 th Anniversary Contour Bottle” exhibited at the World of Coca-Cola Museum such as Wharol, Basquiat, Haring and Hopper… “Gigant”, symbol of the Ski World Cup Alta Badia in the Dolomites Unesco Park… “Gabriel” for Andrea Bocelli… “Cristo Ritorto” on the Virgin Mary’s altar at the Sanctuary of Oropa… I really can’t choose… so genuinely I hope it will be the next one!

Where would I most like to live? I love a lot of places: New York City to work, la Villa in Badia live mountains, Cannes in summer, Carrick for a beer with friends… but no place are good enough to live without my wife and my son. The better place to
live is together with them.

What is my most treasured possession? Dignity. It allows you to be free, to look life straight in the eye, to accept change and follow it… It’s the idea you have of yourself that leads you towards your destiny!

What is my most marked characteristic? I don’t have a precise idea: on a physical level, definitely the belly! In terms of character, I like to think of determination as resilience. Even if I mumble a little too much…

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? Definitively the Sanctuary of Oropa: 1300 meters high; the silence of the mountain; the familiarity of the walls; the spirituality of 6 centuries of history, research and faith that envelops you… together with the small village of Camandona, in the Biellese Alps, where I spent years with my grandparents and parents as a child.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city? Too many… I like to change. But basically I like farmhouses with traditional and authentic local cuisine even when I’m travelling. Food is culture.

Picture credits: Stefano Ceretti

What books influenced my life and how? The book is “The Tipping Point: how little things can make a big difference” written by Malcom Gladwell. Not a best seller, but it explained me very well how change is the true constant of life. How should we
welcome it. How should we handle it, emotionally as well. The change is sudden, black or white, because the brain works like this. It’s a way of relating with reality, with history, with emotions, with others, with life… I have drawn inspiration for my art both on a conceptual and an aesthetic level. The use of folds in my sculptures was born like this… and then really much more!

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? I’m not particularly fond of music. I like silence. But if I think of a sound, I think of my son’s voice.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? All people who set goals that go beyond personal interest. Who are aware of being part of a community, who see the other, listen to him and respect him. Who smiling despite everything.

Picture credits: Stefano Ceretti 

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime? Cloud Atlas and Matrix Saga… both masterpieces!

What role play stories in my life and work? I tell stories. All my sculptures come from stories and tell stories. Memories are the stories of our life. The stories speak of value, habits, emotions… these are the teachings that have been handed down over time. We would be nothing without stories.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me? I strongly believe in the self-determination of one’s own life. We are absolutely the protagonists of our history. We can do it if we want. The only real question is: how far do we really want to make it?

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? Absolutely my father. We’ve been working together for more than 13 years… I took him with me into the art world. He was used to work fashion system. We always and continuously argue… but for me it’s a very important confrontation for work. I am very grateful to him for his help, patience and time.

Picture credits: Stefano Ceretti 

Which people or companies would I like to work with? Wow! Difficult to choose! I try with 5 people and 5 companies… Obviously they would be much more… but it would be great to start to work with them! I say the architect Renzo Piano; the sportsmen Valentino Rossi and Bebe Vio; the writer Joanne Rowling and the artist Anish Kapoor… for the companies I think Marvel, Pagani, Moncler, LVMH, and Ferrero!

What project am I looking forward to work on? Different on the way to being real…but I can’t tell now. The only one I can talk about is Soulgate: a monument to the meaning of limit. Personal, social, cultural… talk about walls and doors. Of identities and
open minds. Nowadays we are more and more confused about our identity. Society changes too fast. The risk is to live with fear and jump into a new Middle Age.

Where can you see me or my work? I’m always travelling. The best way to meet me is obviously to contact my studio… but you can see all my works on the website http://www.danielebasso.it… And physically touch my art visiting the monuments I made or
the galleries I kindly work with: Artion Gallery, Galerie Sept, Simon Bart, Hysteria Art Milan, Galleria Ferrero
and Cris Contini Contemporary.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? My whole world is about passion. I can’t imagine life without passion… How boring and aimless could it be?

Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story? The artists are Marco Veronese and Lorenzo Puglisi, the photograph Damiano Andreotti, Stefano Ceretti and Antonio Mantovan, the architects Alessia Genova and Elisa Braga, the car designer Roberto Giolito, the designer Danilo Ragona and the and the entrepreneurs Andy Varallo e Gionata Pirali.

How can you contact me? You can find the contacts on my website (www.danielebasso.it), by writing me directly to the email
info@danielebasso.it, or on my social profiles Daniele Basso Art on Facebook, Istragram and Linkedin