藝術家 Irma Mercedes Pellegrini
國籍 阿根廷
旅居地 英國‧倫敦
創作媒材 樹葉、木頭
＂Irma 於80年代開始使用木材創作,其作品運用不同的雕刻技術及拼貼的技法，
部分作品被永久展出並收藏在Carilo Tennis Ranch.
1987首次個展展出於Neuquen
1993年於XI Cordoba 國際工藝博覽會獲得首獎及兩個特別獎
2007於格林威治參與藝術家集體創作展＂
受訪Irma Mercedes Pellegrini
採訪 鄭純良
攝影 鄭純良
Q : why start to do creative work 為什麼創作？
Since childhood I did things with my hands, played over the trees, I was all the time in contact with nature and I never felt like I felt full or satisfied with what I was doing, I just wanted something new I feel good
自從兒時便開始接觸來自大自然的素材並且用手體會一切，不論是爬樹或是搜集葉子，而我一直從這些充滿生命力的材料中獲得力量，並透過作品達到心靈的滿足，當我在生活中有任何新的體會時，創作的靈感就像新生的小綠芽不斷冒出頭來。
Q : when was the moment to choice the material什麼契機讓你選擇以樹葉為創作素材？
even though I had a big family and work. in the free time I was doing short courses and I did things in my studio at home I did things for my friends, my family. In the 80's already had a good shop and spent much time alone with my children, I filled these space doing things with what I had and was closer: WOOD.
in large sawmills would give me different pieces of wood of which combined in colors, shapes, and latticed lace making
雖然我的家庭與工作佔去我生活中很大部份的時間，但我利用閒暇時間進修學習，同時也在個人工作室裡創作，起初只為了做點小東西送朋友與家人，豈料到了八零年代時，興趣已經發展成一間不錯的店面，因此我開始花更多時間真正的過生活，也根據過去的木匠工作經驗更加大量的使用我熟悉的媒材-木頭。而現在我作品中主要的木頭來自於鋸木廠的各樣零碎木片。
Q : what does these art works mean to you這些創作對你而言的意義是?
(Irma)In the past these works were for me as a branch in the river, I found shelter, I found company, I found a door to communicate with other people.
Then I could see that all people were equal, different ways, different ways but united in that.
Now I've just joined this path with this uncertainty that is not real, is created by us humans and if we humans can create this, we can also transform using this creativity to give us the space that everyone has in this place, the right to exist and be.
過去完成的任何創作對我來說都是生命的分流,其中有我的避風港，一種平靜的陪伴，甚至像一道門，讓我走出去與人群，互動溝通，因為如此我才發現人人都是平等的，即便我們在各種內在外在條件不同，但我們在這樣的不同之上其實是一體的。
而我們所擁有的生命和所處的世界，其實就像個遊戲，規矩和現況都是我們一手打造出來，既然如此，我們也可以打造一個世界，在那裏每個人都有立足之地，每個存在都是有意義和價值的。
Q : what message you want to convey through the works你有想要透過作品傳達什麼樣的訊息給觀賞者?
I do not know if it's message is the fact of having lived something intense leading to perceive, I think no different I think more open, somehow in the process I learned to trust in life and nature, then I feel that if I can, we all can and it is my duty to share it
所謂創作好像就是跟隨著你強烈的感受去生活去表現，但我想傳達的訊息比這更寬廣。創作或是生活應該是不設限，勇於改變，像大家現在標榜的＂離開你的舒適圈＂
我從這些木頭所感受到的是對於生命與大自然的全然信任，因為明白到我屬於這宇宙的一部分，所以我做得到這些，而大家也都可以做到（離開舒適圈）
而我的創作，是為了讓觀賞者明白這一切。
Q : why come to Taiwan為何選擇台灣做為亞洲初訪?
Because I had the opportunity to know and work with Jerry in London and I feel that a place like CT is a large door, a huge opportunity to share, learn, teach from the heart from the creative new ways not only focused on survival to life, this is a first step, based on respect, integrity, everyone can take 100 percent
當我在倫敦Sunday pop-up展覽時，碰巧有機會認識到希嘉文化的執行長Jerry並與其一同共事，他向我介紹台灣的創作環境以及Cooking Together(以下簡稱CT)生活創作基地的角色。
我覺得CT就像一扇大門，推開後是龐大的機會與資源讓創作人得以共享,並且以創意的方式用心去感受體會再傳達給更多人，讓創作是一種共好而不僅只於現實生活中的生存議題而已。
CT這門推開，讓進來的人油然的開始互相尊重，互相學習,每個人在這裡都能夠呈現100%的自我。
這就是為什麼我選擇台灣，因為我被這想法感動，因此決定來走訪一遭。
Q : What do you think about Cooking Together?那你覺得Cooking Together這點子如何呢?
I think is a great idea and opportunity for artists to show their processing capacity, besides being safe place where the transformative ideas will emerge that can rescue all values that we all have and we can not know or use.
我想Cooking Together在做的,對創作人來說是一個很棒的機會去展現他們的技術專業與想法,
同時這邊對於創作人來說也像是個搖籃，在創作尚未成熟，創意尚未成形之時，可以不受外界的干擾與評斷，心之所向的摸索。並且各式各樣的創作人都能在這裡找到相對應的方式與空間相處。
Q : what do you think about Cooking Together to the artists?你認為Cooking Together基地之於創作人?
I think and feel that it is not an easy task, it is easy cooking ideas in a talk and be all happy, then make it a reality, put it into practice creates great difficulties that we are in a time where people are afraid of commitment, well understood responsibility and I feel that this is the first step, accompany the idea, giving the chance to show that there is a commitment that must somehow assumed
但我同時認為對於創作者來說,參與cooking並不是個簡單的工作，特別是大家雖然談論創意想法的時候十分開心，卻因為害怕對於自己所提出的創意想法負責並勇於實踐，造成很多創意想法在COOKING後便無疾而終。我認為對於自己所提出的創意想法負責是cooking together 的第一步，伴隨着這樣的創意想法,去表現對於這個想法的承諾也是想當然而的。
［On the way to…在前往的路上］個展開幕party 邀請函(請填寫資料入場)
〔Irma Mercedes Pellegrini〕
2010-2012: exhibition wall on Sunday Up Market. Brick Lane. The London Design Festival from Thingswelove.co.uk. Art Corner at the Coffee Point Brick Lane.
2005-2006: Greenwich Market, Artists Collective, Greenwich show small collage with recycled wood sculptures
July 2005: TWP Hackney Empire, London .the first presentation of “Movements of Living”
Dec 2004: Camden Lock Market, London. Selling small pictures about women’s life with natural colours of wood and express different feeling from the visitors
Aug 2004: La Carlota Exhibition, Cordoba, Argentina Murals and collages, expression with tools from the farmer (installation)
Dec 2002: Andino Gallery “La Carlota x 2”Sculptures and Collages on wood, from the natural forest
2000-2001: Green Park Exhibition Pitch Number 1825A, London. Collages about the women’s life on naturals colours from different wood
2000-2001: King's Lynn Arts Centres-Christmas exhibition, Norfolk small sculptures on leaves.
1982-1999: Hotel Paradise in Carilo, Pinamar, Argentina permanent exhibition on small and big collages on different naturals colour on wood
1982-1999: Tennis Ranch in Carilo, Pinamar, Argentina permanent exhibition
1982-1999: La Cheminee in San Martin de los Andes, Argentina permanent exhibition
1982-1999: “Fair of Sun” in Buenos Aires, Argentina 21 days exhibition with all the expression and explanation on different woods and trees
Workshops
1982-1999: Irma's Open Studio, Neuquen, Argentina
Teaching arts and crafts to small groups of adults and children
Selling own work
2011: Woodcraft school course. St Helen Montessori School. East Farleigh. Kent. UK
Voluntary Work
Feb 2005-Present: Praxis Project at Bethnal Green, London
Volunteer teacher to refugee children
Teaching wood carving to adults
Running a puppet workshop for children
Creating craft woods and painting