Franco Brambilla is an Italian illustrator devoted to sci-fi. Since 2000 he has been one of the main illustrators of the “Urania” and “Urania Collezione” sci-ifi book collections by Mondadori. In 2007 Brambilla starts “Invading the Vintage” an art project still running on Flickr.
Retrofuturism (adjective retrofuturistic or retrofuture) is a trend in the creative arts showing the influence of depictions of the future produced in an earlier era.
If “futurism is sometimes called a ‘science’ bent on anticipating what will come, retrofuturism is the remembering of that anticipation.“
Characterized by a blend of old-fashioned “retro” styles with futuristic technology, retrofuturism explores the themes of tension between past and future, and between the alienating and empowering effects of technology. Primarily reflected in artistic creations and modified technologies that realize the imagined artifacts of its parallel reality, retrofuturism can be seen as “an animating perspective on the world.” But it has also manifested in the worlds of fashion, architecture, design, music, literature, film, and video games. (source)
Franco, where do you get your inspiration?
I have always been a great scifi fan and a retro future lover. I grow up in the 70s and 80s. scifi was everywhere, books, tv, movies and comics. I thought as many other kids of my time that man would live on mars and the moon very soon and that flying cars would become a reality. I also love old postcards, in 2007 I started to invade them with scifi characters and the mix worked very well. I’ still doing it with joy. As an illustrator I also create many book covers since the year 2000 but for book covers I prefer to use 3d programs and realize complete digital images. Many of my covers have been made for a scifi book collection very popular in Italy called Urania.
Which is the relationship and influence between your cultural background (country, studies, etc.) and your artworks?
The relationship is very strong, my scientific studies, my passions (art, photography, movies) influence a lot my work.
What are you much focused in?
I specialized in scifi images, I made thousands of book covers so they usually call me for that but I enjoy create book covers for any genre. I specialized in editorial images, I rarely worked for advertising.
Have you encountered any difficulties when you first started your art/freelance career?
No, I started to work in the mid 90s, computers were changing the world of illustration and graphic design, no economic crisis. It was a great time for a young illustrator.
Over these years, what is the most important thing you have learnt from your profession?
Well, this is a difficult answer. I think that as an illustrator you must dare, experience every time you get a new work and you have strongly to belive in yourself as an author… not easy these days.
Do you think that a creative job is just creativity or it’s discipline too?
Discipline is as important as creativity.
I work with publishers, editors… you cant miss a deadline. Punctuality is quite important.
Are you currently work on new projects?
I’m working on the covers for the books that will be published in April by Urania, I’m also preparing some new postcard invasion for a solo exhibition in May.
Artist Website > francobrambilla.com
Flickr > www.flickr.com/photos/francobrambilla/
