As Boky returns to the atelier after a tumultuous end of year, I met up with her to discuss what 2026 would look like for her and her partner Blake. I had the pleasure to meet them in their Italian atelier in Pietrasanta, close the the Carrara mountains which have been providing marble to the masters since the Roman empire. As I arrived to the address the garage door was open, giving into a glorious open-space with various workstations. Boky smiled and waved frantically from the other end of the atelier, coming to welcome me at fullspeed on her snazzy Rollerskates! The first question I didn't expect to ask was :
Do you always wear roller skates in the studio?
Depending on the type of day I'm having. I would say if I'm working with power tools I'll keep safety in mind and stay relatively grounded. I deeply believe that my art, as serious as the thematics can be, also anchors itself in playfulness. Life is fun, and sometimes we can get engulfed by the breadth of it. Rollerblading keeps me focused and allows me to feel more free in my movement and my mind. Even when I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed by my inspirations it allows me to take a step back and gives me a change of perspective. My inspirations take me from one place to another so quickly, I must move just as fast.
On that note, where does you inspiration come from ?
Inspiration is like a gust of wind, sometimes its a light breeze, sometimes it's like a tornado. I'm constantly somewhere in between and when i find myself in the doldrums or worse in the Dunkelflaute, I reconnect with myself and the world around me. I put my roller skates on, listen to Peter Gabriel and keep the momentum going. Whenever I feel stuck, I keep it moving. The inspiration never stops, catching it is the tricky part. You have to act fast if you want it to be true to that initial spark. If I wait to long the though changes ultimately allowing me to create something completely different than the initial idea.
Can you explain your creative process?
Once an idea has entered my mind, I explore the meanings of it, the conceptual layers it evokes in my mid. Writing is a big part of the initial process. With this collection I bring that process into the final piece.
Invoco Te Divina Stella is right down that alley, how did this artwork come to life?
"Invoco Te Divina Stella" comes from a centuries-old prayer by Gabriello Chiabrera, I first saw it etched on the Torretta Leon Pancaldo in Savona. Originally this prayer was meant to save sailors at sea, as they embarked on perilous journeys they would pray to the Virgin Mary or the "Blessed Stars".
What are your hopes and dreams for 2026?
This year is about action, not restraint. It is about becoming even more free and unafraid. I hope that I can allow myself to be more wild, and not let my fears or doubts overtake my desires to create. Last year was quite chaotic as we had a major flood in our primary home. I was still able to create and present a diptych for Art Dubai Digital 2025, entitled "In Lucem Aurum". Although I didn't produce as much as I wanted to due to the circumstances, I was able to enter a phase of reflection which I am excited to translate into creation as 2026 unfolds. In regard my hopes and dreams, I have a lot of hope in humanity, my pieces often go back to this theme.