In this edition of our “Behind the Process” series, we step into the quietly charged world of Palermo-based artist Simone Geraci. His works explore the fragile space between presence and absence. What follows is a thoughtful exchange about melancholy, meaning, and the moment a painting finally falls silent.
Your compositions are emotionally intense, yet restrained. What emotion most often drives you to paint?
I would say melancholy. But not as pure sadness—more like a silent tension, a kind of waiting. It's an emotion that allows me to observe things with a certain distance, and at the same time with extreme clarity. It's as if that melancholy puts me in a state of listening—to objects, bodies, empty spaces—and only from there, from that emotional suspension, something authentic can be born.
How do you know when a painting has said everything it needs to say?
When it stops generating questions as I look at it. If I no longer feel the need to add, remove, or adjust anything, it means the work has reached an internal coherence. Even if it’s not “perfect,” I know that any further intervention would only weigh it down or distort it. At that point, I consider it complete.
Is there something you're currently struggling with—or deeply questioning—in your practice?
Yes, I’m questioning the very idea of “meaning.” For years I tried to assign a clear purpose to every gesture, every formal choice. Now I’m wondering whether it’s more interesting to inhabit ambiguity. Not to escape the responsibility of saying something, but to give the viewer a more open, intimate space.
If one of your paintings could whisper something to its viewer, what would it be?
It would probably be a slow and contained whisper, almost hesitant. It wouldn’t be loud or dramatic, but something subtle—as if the painting were just becoming aware of its own presence. A faint sound that doesn’t seek attention, but gently invites you to listen more closely.
Thank you for joining us in this moment of reflection with Simone.
We’re honored to share his voice with you.
Melissa & Meredith
Nomad Art Collective
