Enea Colombi
Capturing Creativity: Enea Colombi's Perspective on the Evolving Video Medium.
I realised that the world of moving images was not just a summer fling but was likely to stay with me and become an integral part of my life.
Enea Colombi is an Italian Director who grew up in the peaceful countryside. He started making music videos when he was just 16 years old and has since worked with famous brands and artists from around the world. Recently, he won a UK Music Video award for his video 'Mare di Guai', which features the Italian pop artist Ariete. Enea's work is influenced by his surroundings and explores the connection between people and nature. He combines elements of art, fashion, and cinema in his projects, which include commercials, music videos and narratives.
When did you realise that creating videos was your true calling?
Throughout my life, I've had many passions, falling in love with numerous things, but after a few months, my interest would wane. I realised that the world of moving images was not just a summer fling but was likely to stay with me and become an integral part of my life. There wasn’t a specific moment when I realised this; rather, it was a gradual realisation. The more I grew, the more the idea matured in me that everything I was doing was right. I grew in symbiosis, both as a human being and as a professional, along with my work, which has been and still is a life partner.
Reflecting on your earliest video projects, how do you perceive them now?
I see them as genuinely flawed, with a hint of melancholy towards a naivety that led me to make mistakes but at the same time improved me. I was much less afraid of making mistakes than I am now, but I have deep respect for most of the work I did in the past.
I began to re-evaluate all my personal past, a past from which I had fled but which today is my greatest source of inspiration.
If you were to describe a moment of rebirth in your career, what comes to mind?
I believe a turning point occurred during COVID-19. This event brought me back to the places of my childhood, in the lowlands of the Po Valley, where I rediscovered places, people and moments I had forgotten and abandoned. I began to re-evaluate all my personal past, a past from which I had fled but which today is my greatest source of inspiration. At the centre of this process is a strong bond that keeps me connected to nature. I changed the way I see things and especially how I tell stories, I cleared my vision.
Architecture plays a significant role in your work. How do you research and integrate it with the artist's vision?
I have always had a strong passion for architecture, born from an extreme curiosity about everything around me. One method is direct experience; I let myself be drawn in, I love to travel and explore new places and as soon as I encounter buildings or places with a certain architectural flavour I try to learn about their history, I try to sneak in to discover interiors and find new perspectives. Another method is thorough archival research through books and online articles; over the years, I have created my own private archive complete with an interactive map where I insert coordinates and photos of places of interest.
I have always had a strong passion for architecture, born from an extreme curiosity about everything around me.
Do you consider yourself part of a particular Italian video scene or artistic movement?
I think it is difficult to define a contemporary Italian artistic movement; there is a lot of enthusiasm and dynamism among young directors and filmmakers. I believe that at the heart of this movement, there is a common desire to experiment with new methods but at the same time, to tell personal stories and viewpoints, which I believe will be the only ones to hold significant value in a future where part of creativity will be managed by algorithms and AI. A strong and personal perspective, whether on a narrative or a current theme, is all that cannot be emulated and is destined to have value.
Among all your projects, which one holds a special place in your heart?
My first short film, ‘Il Giorno Dopo’ (‘The Day After’), a dark fairy tale set on the banks of the Po, in the places of my childhood, will be distributed soon.
I think the industry will change a lot, many jobs will be automated and many will disappear. I believe that in this process of automation, all that is human will gain more and more value, and I think simplicity and humanity will play a prominent role.
Why do you think Italy appears to lag behind in certain aspects of the industry?
I believe the main problem is that most Italian companies are rooted in a somewhat outdated way of thinking and are not keeping up with the times. They have little trust in the general public and it is not in their interests to educate towards a certain visual culture.
Looking ahead, how do you envision the future of the industry in the next five years?
I think the industry will change a lot, many jobs will be automated and many will disappear. I believe that in this process of automation, all that is human will gain more and more value, and I think simplicity and humanity will play a prominent role.