Mauro Pallotta aka Maupal is a street artist from Rome, Italy. Photography © The thin thread, Poznań, Maupal

1.In your opinion what is the role of a museum?

The world is experiencing an epochal change. Technology most influences this transformation that we are experiencing, but then with this coronavirus epidemic, culture suffers and from the communication point of view there is a boom in information.

The role of museums today is different from what they had up to thirty years ago: now the museum must communicate its existence without too much difficulty to a large audience.

As a street artist, I consider urban art the most contemporary artistic expression ever. Now the museum is the road. Today the museum has two alternatives to survive: to continue a historicization through a much more detailed qualitative research or, for a cultural democracy, to welcome the cultural reality that is developing on the streets and on the web.

2.What are your favorite museums in the world? Why?

In my opinion, the museum is synonymous with “historical”, therefore with “past”. I do not perceive the relationship with the contemporary world, or at least it does not reflect reality.

I often visit the Vatican Museums, a magical and qualitatively exceptional place, but technology is not enough to make it as something contemporary, there is no real interaction with today.

On the other hand, if I visit the MAAM – Museo dell’Altro e dell’Altrove in Rome, born illegally in a former occupied factory, I have the perception of experiencing the exact moment in which I am: I am part of the museum, I interact with reality. I feel involved.

3.How important are social networks in your business? And which platform do you prefer and why.

I’m not very technological. I use Facebook and Instagram and together with my website, they have become my gallery of reference.

4.In particular, due to the coronavirus emergency, how have you changed your business on social networks?

I have not changed my way of life, except for the “small” detail of not being able to interact on city walls anymore. I am using social platforms a lot more and I am defining an illustrated POP vocabulary, one of my next projects.

5.To create greater engagement among museums, artists and professionals, do you have any advice for cultural projects such as #MuseumWeek?

It is always difficult to give advice, especially to those who know more than you do. In general, I can say that I would like a greater and more detailed cultural dissemination, just like #MuseumWeek has been trying to do for a few years already.

Interview by Fabio Pariante, journalist

MORE

Maupal on social networks: Instagram – Facebook – Website

Mauro Pallotta aka Maupal (Rome, 1972) trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. Passionate about sculpture, he approached street art in 2014 with the Super Pope work made in Rome, near Vatican City, dedicated to Pope Francis in the Superman version.

Maupal’s works are found all over the world, particularly in London, Miami and Rome, and among the most important productions are the paintings dedicated to Queen Elizabeth, Donald Trump and Pier Paolo Pasolini; in 2016 ArtNet magazine included him among the thirty most influential street artists in the world.

Among other projects, Maupal is currently working on the Art’s Angels charity project.