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Marco Klefisch / BLACKNUSS
How did your collaboration with BLACKNUSS come about?
I’ve known Giorgio Di Salvo for many years.
We share many of the same passions, and often we eat, travel and listen to music together.
For two years we developed the MARTE studio/project that is, as a consequence, culminated in the ‘MARTEDì’ book of illustrations produced by Drago publishing. I was involved in BLACKNUSS because of a certain inclination I have towards the creation of dark and disturbing images.
I believe that my work produced in ink in the last two years fits like a glove with the theme of the project.


The work of Blacknuss ( explanation and stories)
Blacknuss is the name of a disc and a piece by the extraordinary multi – instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk, record that I listened with Giorgio years ago.
The music piece has a prologue by the same Afro-American musician: “Now we gathered here on the universe at this time, this particular time to listen to the 36 black notes of the piano. There’s 36 black notes and 52 white notes. We don’t mean to eliminate nothin but we’re gonna just hear the black notes at this time if you don’t mind.”
I tried to concentrate on images that would offer a strong contrast in its style and content. Rather than the dark in itself, I’m interested in the contrast that amplifies it. All of my recent illustrations are based on image sampling or on the production of functional photos for design development.


Why is the theme challenging / a battle?
The comparison and the clashing of two generic elements exasperate the nature of subjects and highlight the differences and the dark sides.
This interests me a lot.

By Alberto Guerrini | traslated by Maria Adamo | images courtesy of Marco Klefisch & 2DM Management
