“The search for pleasure” – interview with Ottaven/Canedicoda

Ottaven, aka Canedicoda, is a multidisciplinary artist who works in the fields of music, design and fashion. As a musician he started working in 2003 and collaborated with many bands all around Europe. Ottaven will perform a live set on the 22 of August here at Concorto, and – being curious – we asked him a few questions.

-Who is Canedicoda and who is Ottaven? Tell us a bit about yourself.

Canedicoda is the name that accompanies me between paper, fabric and wood, or generally in my search for shapes and meanings between spaces and materials. Ottaven, on the other hand, stands for something that is impalpable, something that I could describe as my reflections on sound.
Of course, I am only a single person. I chose two different names because the contexts and objects in which I dabble are often different.

-Your projects are heterogeneous and in different sectors. What brings your work together?

I’ve always tried, to the best of my ability, to nurture my passions by trying to transform them into a job that I could live off of. I try to be concrete and keep my feet on the ground. I am cautious before talking about art. I can find possible links between different sectors.
Those links are, trivially, the search for pleasure.

-Cinematography and music often intersect. Do they have an equal influence in your work and which are they?

Soundtracks for motion picture have always been my dream and my myth. I am giving myself some time, but I would like it to be my refuge after the age of 50.

-What will be the focus of your live at Concorto?

Well, I’m still waiting to see the setting and check the acoustics of the place! I am thinking of something calm and nocturnal. I like to stimulate introspection. I also hope I will be able to see some of the shorts on the program and perhaps draw inspiration off them, extending a perception..

Interview curated by Simone Bardoni.