Melissa Debernardi @whatif.now
Tenacity, magic, and pain. But three words feel like far too little to truly describe my approach to art. It’s a long story—one that I hope to share someday
MEET MELISSA DEBERNARDI
Q&A
Who’s @whatif.now?
Hi, I’m Melissa Debernardi, an Italian photographer and screenwriter. Abouta year ago, I started exploring the world of artificial intelligence, almost by accident—what began as a game quickly turned into a passion. This journey led me to create an Instagram page to showcase my experiments and creativity.
When it came time to choose a name that represented both me and my artistic explorations, I wanted something playful and thought-provoking. The question What if? felt perfect. What if I let a jellyfish float in the sky? What if I turned surreal ideas into visual art? And so, ‘What If’ became my identity in this creative adventure.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I’m not sure what exactly inspired me to become an artist—it feels like it’s always been a natural part of me. I attended art school during my teenage years, and those formative experiences shaped my creative process. Learning artistic techniques, diving deep into art history, and falling in love with Renaissance art all played a role. I still vividly remember the awe I felt when I saw Michelangelo’s David for the first time in Florence.
There wasn’t a single defining moment when I decided, ‘I want to be an artist.’ It just felt right, as if it were meant to be. I’m grateful for the unwavering support of my family—especially my mother, who believed in me even when I struggled to believe in myself.
For me, being an artist is about going with the flow and embracing where it takes me. Who knows what’s next?
What’s one message you’d like to share with our readers? And If you could describe your approach to art in three words, what would they be?
If there’s one message I’d like to share, it’s this: take a moment to truly focus on my art. If any of the readers were to explore my work, I would ask them to look closely—very closely. There’s always something waiting to be discovered in the details, something that speaks beyond the surface.
We at Tramezzini believe that art and food are deeply intertwined. What does this philosophy mean to you?
This is a tough question, but I’ll try to answer! I’ve never had the best relationship with food—I absolutely love it visually; I find it elegant and refined, but I wouldn’t call myself a foodie. For instance, I don’t eat fish or cheese because I don’t like them, and I’ve never enjoyed wine, which, as an Italian, might seem almost shameful! I’ve never been the type to sit down and savor a meal at the table. Instead, I prefer nibbling on snacks while watching a movie or even while working at my computer, deep in the process of creating. For me, food is a great companion to my creativity—it inspires me in subtle ways and adds texture to the moments when I’m immersed in making art.”
@whatif.now
@whatif.now
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