Chiara Pandolfi: the artist behind the Veg paintings
Who: Chiara Pandolfi is an Artist and Art Therapist, working with both adults and children to heal through art.
Why: Chiara is the talent behind the stunning watercolour paintings on the Periodic Table of Veg and a close friend from childhood.
Favourite veggie dish: Arepas with plantain and chopped tomatoes.
1. Let’s start from the very beginning - where were you born and what was your family life like?
I was born in Massachusetts (USA) but we moved to Togo shortly thereafter - my mother was working for the WFP (World Food Program) at the time, and that’s where she was engaged. We changed countries every four years when I was growing up: we lived in Togo, Zimbabwe, Italy (where I met you!), Tanzania, Italy again, and then the USA. I continued to move around in adulthood, but have remained put in London for some time now.
2. Did this movement have an impact on you?
My experiences and understanding of people were broadened in ways I am profoundly grateful for. Yet it also created some confusion around my sense of identity and belonging: my heart was in many homes, with many wonderful people. I was familiar with different cultures and languages, but not in the same way as someone who grew up in fewer places.
“One of my earliest and fondest memories of meeting my father’s side of the family in Italy is my great grandmother lovingly making tortellini by hand.”
3. What type of food did you eat growing up?
Given our family movements, I ate all sorts. It’s always been a passion for me and a way of connecting with the many places I’ve lived. My mom has a picture of me as a toddler in Togo picking veg at the market which I love.
When I lived in Zimbabwe my parents both worked, so I spent a lot of time with my nanny and her family. I have a distinct memory of her making Sadza, a white cornmeal dough which we would have with Okra or Kapenta (freshwater fish, it’s a landlocked country). It’s not really the flavour I remember, as much as the feeling of comfort and homeliness.
One of my earliest and fondest memories of meeting my father’s side of the family in Italy is my great grandmother lovingly making tortellini by hand. Food has always brought me closer to people.
Left: Chiara’s own veggie cooking. Right: Chiara’s workspace in Periodic Table of Veg creation mode.
4. Is there a dish you remember most fondly from your childhood?
When we lived in Tanzania, people would gather by the palm trees and eat street food on Saturdays and Sundays. There was this dish...I think it was a pickled coconut shell filled with potato, lemon and chilli. It was similar to a samosa in some ways: the coconut shell was a soft casing. There was also something the locals called “secret Zanzibari soup” which was delicious, and to this day I don’t know what was in it!
5. What role does food play in your life?
As I mentioned, it’s always been a connector for me. I appreciate food in a very aesthetic way - I love the colours...veg is so colourful! When I cook, it’s almost like working with a palette. I like to start with a recipe but always take my own direction and use taste and smell to make adjustments.
While I don’t consider myself a vegetarian because I occasionally eat fish (I am still too attached to the flavour!), I transitioned away from meat many years ago. When I moved back to the west, I realised how disconnected we are from the food on our plate. I don’t believe I could kill an animal, so I decided I would feel less hypocritical if I stopped eating meat. Of course there are also the moral and environmental aspects to this, but at the heart of my decision was not wanting to feel like a hypocrite.
Left: Chiara’s artwork, Paint Landscape technique. Right: Chiara in action creating a Thangka Painting.
6. Moving from food to Art: Was Art always your calling?
I’ve loved Art since I was a child...all of the Arts! I ended up pursuing visual Art. It was another way for me to connect with the many people and places I came across and interacted with. Art has always been a haven for me. This is what led me into Art Therapy, I wanted to create this safe space for others. Art itself was the therapy for me.
Growing up I always did Art-related things that involved encouraging expression and community. I was always trying to bring Art to different places and this led me to develop an understanding of how powerful it could be.
“[Art Therapy uses] creativity as a tool to encourage insight into oneself, one’s relationships and more broadly on the collective.”
7. So what is Art Therapy?
I see Art Therapy as a tool or a means of communication. In fact, the word “Art” itself can be limiting because it has such a weighty connotation. I’d say “creativity” instead: using creativity as a tool to encourage insight into oneself, one’s relationships and more broadly on the collective. The process of creating can be simultaneously cathartic and calming. The insight and emotional development that takes place is what enables healing.
Left: Chiara’s artwork, Sophistry, watercolour on paper. Right: Chiara modelling a custom-designed helmet she created.
8. Who is Art therapy for?
I think it can be for everyone! As we grow older we develop a critical inner voice that sets us back and judges us. Art Therapy can make people feel more free and engaged with their inner child. This allows us to step away from all the fear, worries and expectations that we set for ourselves. It really is for anybody who is willing to engage with it.
“Painting the veg allowed me to re-engage with my own art.”
9. What was most exciting about painting the veg for the PTOV?
First of all, I thought the concept was genius. Painting the veg allowed me to re-engage with my own art. Over the years I have often focused on engaging others in the creative process, and I found myself dedicating less time to my own art practice. The project allowed me to dedicate time to planting the seeds and reaping the fruits of my artistic process (pun intended)!
I also learned so much, like the nutritional aspects and cooking tips for many of the veggies I painted...it inspired discovery. Whenever I could, I would buy the veg and paint it from still life. On these occasions I would also cook the veg, which allowed me to explore and experiment with new flavours!
Left: Chiara’s artwork, Painterly Flicker, oil on envelope. Right: Chiara’s artwork, Peculiar Elegance.
10. What was most challenging?
The quantity, it was a lot of veg! My other challenge was knowing when to say “it’s done” - as a perfectionist I could keep going forever. It was also a good challenge to have this on top of my normal commitments: it made me refocus my priorities so I could dedicate time to something I love.
11. If you could give one piece of advice on how to achieve health in its physical and emotional forms, what would it be?
Always try to live your truth and keep sight of what brings you joy, whatever that might be. It’s easy for life to lead us astray, but if we can be brave and stay focused on being true to ourselves we can create our own happiness. I recognise that this is easier said than done, but it is something I have recently started to grasp and embrace consciously.
