Life is a continuous discovery of something, at every age, in every moment of the day, I would not want for everything to be completed.
I am reminded of a parallelism with theater, I have always loved shows in which I did not see everything on the stage, I was more interested in what I did not see, I went to look for what was not represented, which was hidden, not said. Because there is something mysterious in what you do not yet know.
If I tell you “unfinished” what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
The future comes to mind, all that I have yet to accomplish. The word “time” also comes to mind, relating to the time available to accomplish what I want.
What color / shape is the unfinished?
Well, now that you ask me, yellow comes to mind and a straight line, or rather two parallel lines, in a certain way the shape is that of a direction, of a path.
Is there something you have left undone in your life?
Yes, first of all my studies, in various fields. For example, I haven’t gotten my driver’s license yet, I wanted to get it in a certain period, but I didn’t have enough determination. I often think about it, I tell myself that I will do it sooner or later, but it has not yet happened. Even in my personal/sentimental and professional life, there is something unfinished. Even if I see incompleteness with a positive side, not with a negative meaning. It is that tension that allows you to say: I will definitely do it, maybe it’s not the time, it’s not today, but maybe it will be the day after tomorrow. Therefore, it’s not like if you leave something unfinished everything has to be lost. Some of my projects have remained unfinished, for example years ago I designed a small festival dedicated to work with a group of highly skilled people, which stopped because the economic resources were not sufficient and perhaps because we were not determined enough to continue. Recently, I gave up a particular position with great responsibility, it remained an unfinished possibility, but I tried to make it constructive.
What is your relationship with unfinished things?
I often think of these unfinished projects, especially in the new suspended time of Covid. I have always been on the move, I experience the beauty and curiosity of the new and I see how the unfinished is part of our life, you can’t do everything, we are limited. And it cannot always be produced, accomplished. There is often the thought of what has not been accomplished, but I also tell myself that if it is not that, I will do something else, I do not want to worry about it, to make it a drama. I’m a bit of a fatalist, maybe it’s not the right time now for a certain project to be completed, life is constantly changing. Then, it is also a question of courage, to say “this, I want to do it”.
Something unfinished that you would like finished
A book that I started writing about my father’s story which also tells about the theater and my city. My father, Giancarlo Ilari, an actor, is a well-known figure in the world of theater. I started doing interviews with him, I have the first chapter ready but I stopped due to lack of time. More generally, the environmental issue is an unfinished that we are unable to address in the right way.
Long live incompleteness, why?
Life is a continuous discovery of something, at every age, in every moment of the day, I would not want for everything to be completed. I am reminded of a parallelism with theater, I have always loved shows in which I did not see everything on the stage, I was more interested in what I did not see, I went to look for what was not represented, which was hidden, not said. Because there is something mysterious in what you do not yet know. So the unfinished has its own charm, maybe it will be finished, maybe not, it’s up to us but that’s not all. The unfinished has something that tells me: tomorrow I will continue it, I will keep on going, it gives me a glimpse of the future. It is the ride of life, to quote the poet Franco Arminio.
When is a work done for you?
When, with a series of other people, we put an end to it, when the process ends, the journey ends, you have reached a result and certain set goals. It doesn’t usually happen alone, it’s a process I work on as a group.
What is a fertilizer for you?
I certainly fertilize myself by reflecting, thinking, reading. Then, also through relationships, encounters, affections. That right dose of loneliness, which allows you to think and process in introspective silence, and all the sociability, the meeting with others that I miss so much in this period (of Covid). I have never been good alone by myself, I need to be with others, often even professional relationships become emotional ones after years. Then, immersing myself in nature recharges me a lot (especially the sea), it is an important fertilizer for breathing, re-oxygenating and feeling better.
3 words that you would match with unfinished?
Time, desire, determination.