Paris
CoM: CIAO! TODAY WE’RE INTERVIEWING CARNEVALE MASK MAKER, PARIS LALIOTIS.
CoM: PARIS, HOW DID YOU FIRST LEARN ABOUT CARNEVALE IN VENICE, ITALY?
PL: I first learned about Carnevale through my personal interest in art, costume, and performance. Seeing images and stories of Venice during Carnevale felt instantly familiar to me, like a place where creativity, identity, and ritual naturally coexist.
CoM: WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT CARNEVALE?
PL: I love the feeling of transformation. Wearing or seeing masks allows people to express hidden parts of themselves. As someone who works with wearable art and visual storytelling, Carnevale feels like a celebration of imagination, craftsmanship, and freedom.
CoM: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE CARNEVALE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN?
PL: I would say that Carnevale is an experience where the city becomes a stage and people become characters in a shared story. It’s not just a festival to watch—it’s something you feel, wear, and live for a moment outside of everyday time.
CoM: ARE YOU A CARNEVALE CREATOR?
PL: Yes, I am a creator. I design wearable art pieces such as headpieces, body pieces, jewelry, and costumes. I started by experimenting with materials and forms as a way to express identity and storytelling through the body. Over time, this naturally led me toward masks and performative elements, which is why Carnevale feels like a very organic space for my work and inspiration.
CoM: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?
PL: I don’t currently have a Carnevale-related business. My involvement with Carnevale is creative and inspirational rather than commercial at this stage. I’m here to learn, connect with the community, and explore how this tradition resonates with my artistic practice.
CoM: WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO CARNEVALE BUSINESS THAT YOU LOVE TO SUPPORT?
PL: At the moment, I don’t have a specific person or business to recommend. However, I love discovering independent creators, mask makers, and performers connected to Carnevale. I would be happy to share recommendations in the future as I continue engaging with the community.
CoM: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT US TO KNOW?
PL: For me, Carnevale is not only a celebration but a living ritual of transformation and storytelling. It connects deeply with my artistic practice and my interest in identity, performance, and symbolism. Being part of this community feels like a natural extension of my creative journey, and I’m excited to learn, exchange, and be inspired by the people who keep this tradition alive.
