What is the best thing that I love about my work? to know I have time, lots of time. Freedom to be able to manage my time by looking much earlier at my needs. I am the one who prepares the schedule of priorities for my day. To live daily surrounded by products representative of what beauty is for me, not having to go looking for them because they are in front of my eyes. I create them. I am the creator of beauty and therefore of happiness. Potentially living with this production (not only art objects but everything that is “transformed” by me in my daily life) and being able to offer it to others, this is happiness. My job is basically to offer the world what I naturally find beautiful and interesting. I don’t have to make any effort for this or wear a mask.
What is my idea of happiness? awareness of the infinite possibilities in everything, in life. Listening to other people’s life stories, thus having the feeling that life is like an open book. This feeling for me is happiness. And each page, if reread, can create a new beginning.
What is my greatest fear? I imagine my biggest fear as having the feeling of passing out, losing consciousness in the middle of people, even though I can hear their voice. I don’t know what my biggest fear is really. I know it has to do with my body and maybe it’s having the strong feeling that something is wrong with it and it is uncontrollable. I’m afraid of this strong moment.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? Don’t get to the bottom of good ideas, don’t get them done. Let the enthusiasm die down without having worked hard and confident of success.
Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? Gertrud Fuchs, full-time artist and mother of my partner and artist Eckehard Fuchs. She’s a 360-degree artist. Painter, sculptor, conceptual artist. She lives in Bamberg, Germany, in a beautiful baroque house, completely transformed by her. Every corner of the house, every button of the light switch… has been “reinvented” by her. Everything is part of her, everything is her creation. There is no distance between art and life. This is incredibly beautiful to me. Gertrud doesn’t know boredom. She doesn’t lie… she always says what she thinks. She never wears the mask and doesn’t care that she is considered very naïve by people. I think she has few fears and when she has them she manages to rethink them spiritually, meditating.
What is my greatest extravagance? My two greatest extravagance: squandering (I know sometimes that I want to take possession of things that are absolutely unnecessary) and to be strongly sensitive to situations by experiencing my feelings and sensations in an extreme way
On what occasion would I lie? The moment I feel that what I’m doing belongs to me and should be part of the experiences of my life. I can’t and must not do without it. You don’t have to tell everything. Something is part and parcel of our heart.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? In my job everything depends on me, my mood. No one can replace me in painting a picture. If I don’t work and I don’t have the right intention to present it in the best possible way, nothing will happen. The fact that we are aware that we are 100% responsible for the way work and life goes is certainly a good thing, but it can also be a source of frustration and suffering. Living full of feeling is a double-edged sword.
When and where was i the happiest, in my work? During the period of academic study. I studied art at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan. Not coming from previous artistic studies, I was curious and full of expectations at the idea of starting to work with my hands and spend hours of study and artistic practice. But something else happened at Brera. I only knew and experienced the “theoretical and dialectical” part of art. So I decided to do a period of practice abroad through the ERASMUS exchange project. I went to Dresden, Germany and attended a painting course at the Academy of Fine Arts for 5 months. There I experienced the beauty of the spaces, the ateliers, almost places of worship for the students. Entrance from 8 in the morning until 22 in the evening. I experienced here the many hours of work of the students and the importance of the visit in the other studios. The first real criticism of my work was there and I will never forget it. That was the art that I expected and wanted to live. There I had the feeling that I was starting to own it.That was the happiest time of all. It was the year 2002. There I also met my actual partner in life, the artist Eckehard Fuchs.
If I could, what would I change about myself? I would like to have more clarity in setting out my intentions and more self-determination. I would like to be able to give a greater impression that who I am and what I do are very important things.
What is my greatest achievement in work? The greatest achievement in my work is when someone recognizes that that piece of art is made by Paola Alborghetti
Where would I most like to live? I guess…directly on the seaside or lakeside
What is my most treasured possession? My most treasured possession are absolutely my feelings, my strong sensations and my memories.
What is my most marked characteristic? My most marked characteristic: I have many positive visions and I know I give positivism and good energy to many people. I always leave the future open. I’m not afraid of what is indefinite and uncertain.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city? I don’t live in the city, but in a small town of about 300 inhabitants. The places that inspire me the most here…: ancient churches, the forest, the lake, the mountain (I live in Italy in the province of Como), ruins of stone villages, rock carvings, little local museums like the ethnographic and historic museums.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city? My favorite place to eat and drink in my city? Of course…my house. Me and my partner Eckehard love invite friends stay at our house for more days, cooking and drinking together… the best place with self-invented-international cousine!!
What books influenced my life and how? I guess I don’t have a book that influenced my life….when I was younger I was more into romance, but now I nearly only watch and read catalogues of museums or artists…or I self write poems….i dedicated always less time in reading books. I love mode magazines, they inspire me.
You only die once. What music would I listen on my last day? What music would I listen on my last day? Wow…i don’t know…is difficult to think and imagine it….but in that moment if I have to think about music I will think on a soundtrack from a movie I really love, “Lost in translation” of director Sofia Coppola. It’s not a sad movie…for me is about pure feelings, art, love, beauty, experience and….good music. So it’s about life and experience. My favorite music of this movie is the song”Sometimes” of the band “My bloody Valentine”.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? My heroine in fiction….I guess….I don’t have real heroes in fiction. I’ve never read that much and I’ve never been so much in cinema or theater. I don’t know… it’s like I’m full of myself, satisfied with my fantasy that knows no end…
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? My heroine in real life? I greatly admire and is my greatest inspirational source: Gertrud Fuchs. All she does is hes way of seeing reality. With her, art and life mix naturally.
Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime? I would recommend “Barry Lyndon” of director Stanley Kubrick, it’s a great combination of good music, good pictures, it`s full of intrigue and combination of art and history. Like a drug…always I watch it I must see all without breaks even if is quite long…
What role plays art in my life and work? Art is a fundamental way of communication for me. Making art means just being myself. There is no better way to live then, giving the world outside an interpretation, a personal vision. I am an artist and I don’t have additional job. As the artist Christo said I also believe that “art is not a profession, art is existence”. Everything is surrounding me must be transformed as I am, I think , I feel, respecting of course people surrounding me. Connections and friendships have big importance in my life. More then half-year we are guested by different art-lovers-friends in order to develop projects in their own house or simply we are invited to make our art for a certain period of time. We travel a lot especially we have good connections in Italy, Germany, France and Czech Republic. The rest of the year we live in Italy in my house, in the little village called “Visino”, province of Como,. The house is old and is completely used as atelier and storage. Since 4 years we stay for a period of 6 months in Bienno, province of Brescia, where we coordinate and arrange an artist-in-residence program, inviting artists we know from all around the world to develop here site specific projects. So…art take all the time of my life, as I deeply realize in these years that the main thing is to be connected with good people, friends, creating together every time new projects, sharing minds, stories. So going back to the sentence “Art is not a profession, art is existence” I truly believe this. Thinking on life I cannot be sad or depressed even I know I am far from the “good-selling-system” of art, because good and interesting people are coming in my direction and I connect with them. Is not possible to think as separate on art, life and work…they are all into one. It takes you completely and everything is oriented on this choice for me: friends, life organisation, feelings, decisions, all… Art is a process of being. If I think how my presence in this world is “notable”, is through my art. I will have something to leave here. This is my purest being and this for me has an incredible meaning.
What do the words “you are the storyteller of your own life” to me? It is just what I described before as “process of leaving something of my presence in this world”. To tell my own story is a natural pure way to leave my own experience of life, that is particular giving a chance, another point of view, a new possibility to other people’s existence. Living out of yourself (art) is absolutely possible and this is a message of love, life and beauty.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?
My greatet fan: Eckehard Fuchs
My greates sponsor: Gertrud Fuchs, Farina Luciano (my uncle and collector of mine)
My greates partner in crime: all of them above and my family
Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2020? People would I like to work with in 2020: my artists friends Francesca Conchieri and Mauro Cossu (couple), the journalist/writer and interior designer Zyta Misztal von Blechinger, and….I would like to meet a good and interesting creative designer for fashion, working with me on project of experimental clothing, as I started to paint directly on fabric and I started to create wearing shawls by myself…
Which people in my profession who can make a real difference in my creative career would I love to meet in 2020? People in my profession would I love to meet in 2020: my favorite painter, he died, Roy Oxlade
What project in 2020 am I looking forward to work on?At the moment there are four projects I am working on. The first actually is a group exhibition, the inauguration will be on the 18th July 2020, By the beautiful post-industrial architecturebase of the association P.I.R., the building is called Centro 3T (http://www.postindustriale.it/) and is situated in Sellero, province Brescia, North of Italy. There will shown the collections of masks different artists created during the pandemic time, the project is curated by artists Francesca Conchieri and Mauro Cossu and the project is called “My mask”. A catalogue will be printed, and I love to think on this project because it combines amazing good people together and the post-industrial heritage in this area of Val Camonica is absolutely inspiring and giving good energy. The second project is called “Exhibition for one” and is a virtual-project-exhibition organised from my patner Eckehard Fuchs and I am collaborating with. This project started also during the pandemic time and it starts when while speaking and confronting with the japanese artist Michiko Nakatani we came to the idea to collect some great artistic works just printing them from files, on simply A4 paper, without problem of transport and money. At this time we all were in the need of good things….. so we – I and Eckehard Fuchs – sent to Michiko some of our works on files and she printed and installed them outside in her typical japanese garden. So we started to ask further to artist collegues to participate while sending their own work in a Dropbox that all of participating artists can see and they can choose work and installed as they like. They will send then the picture of the exhibition. All the collection of the documentation of the already made exhibitions is possible to see here:
https://exhibitionforone.blogspot.com/ . This is a great project that I see not only as an artistic one but also anthropological one that let people more think about new possibility and way to own an artwork, how to present it and of course this project create a certain new and good network for all of us giving a lot of different information. After we would like to make a publication, that will be maybe a periodical publication. The third project is what me and Eckehard do since 2012, creating and searching for new possibilities of residency for artists and culture lovers. We love to develop with friends and new interesting people we meet projects of residencies where new ideas are coming together; that keeps the door of life experience always open and gives a lot of good energy.
The last project is about creating an on-line shop of unique pieces between design and art. At the begin we will be only in few artists friends promoting each one one unique piece. Since two years I started to paint directly on different fabrics creating wearing shawls, something I think more as a “moving painting”. If you wear one of these shawls….you will feel extremely unique…it is a bit crazy…you move with a painting on…here is possible to see some of my creations on fabric: http://paola-alborghetti.blogspot.com/p/painted-dresses.html
Where you can see me or my work in 2020? In 2020 you can see me and my work in Bienno, province Brescia, North of Italy in the group exhibition “In situ”, with works of mine, Eckehard Fuchs and german artist Ulrike Mundt. The exhibition is hold till middle July at Casa degli Artisti, Bienno. Is possible to see two pieces of mine in the group exhibition “My mask”, verissage on the 18th of July, by Centro 3T, Sellero, province Brescia, North of Italy. And of course..is possible always to see me and my work in my studio, in Valbrona, province Como.
What do the words “passion never retires” mean to me? The words “Passion never retires” are for me common words, as making art never end. It has no begin and no end. It takes the spirit, all day long…..
Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story? Creative heroines Peter should invite: now I am thinking on just two people: one is the journalist/writer and interior designer Zyta Misztal von Blechinger, she works with her husband on the project called “insediamento” (Instagram: insediamento )and the other is my friend Paola Simeone. She had a nice story about her profession….and now she creates and designs nice bags and accessories under the name “Psredwhale” (Instagram: psredwhale )
How you can contact me? The ways to contact me are my e-mail address: alborghetti@gmx.de
facebook account: http://www.facebook.com/paola.alborghetti.7
Instagram: paola_alborghetti
My website: http://paola-alborghetti.blogspot.com/
Here follows a message of Peter de Kuster, founder of The Heroine’s Journey
Are you a creative leader or creative professional looking to develop your business skills and storytelling?
Amidst today’s uncertainty, it is more important than ever to reconnect with yourself and others, develop your creative business, and build your story. Dive deep into your unique business style and areas for growth with the coaching of Peter de Kuster.
IS THE HEROINE’S JOURNEY COACHING FOR YOU?
You are a creative leader or creative professional who is interested in developing yourself, your business, and your story.
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You are aware that there are no quick fixes. Learning is a journey that works when you are fully committed to it. Coaching can bring awareness and help you navigate, but in the end it’s you who is in charge of your growth.
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You want to learn more about how to resource yourself, learn about blind spots, and get feedback.
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You are curious and want to engage in online learning.
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You are motivated to work in-between sessions on yourself (e.g. working on homework assignments that will help you develop new storytelling, skills, and behaviors).
WHAT’S YOUR COACHING QUESTION?
The Heroine’s Journey Coaching is all about your development. To make the most out of your sessions, we ask you to prepare topics to work on with Peter. These topics can serve as a starting point for further in-depth exploration with Peter.
These coaching topics typically resonate with the creative leaders Peter works with:
How can i tell the most powerful story possible about myself and my creative business?
How can I handle self promotion and marketing of my creative business better?
How do can I stay authentic and with focus when having difficult conversations with potential clients?
What are my creative values and how do I align these with my business values?
How can I manage my time and energy better?
How can I radiate confidence to my clients while feeling anxious inside?
How can I steer myself towards creative excellence without becoming rigid?
About Peter de Kuster
Peter de Kuster is the founder of The Heroine’s Journey & Hero’s Journey project, a storytelling firm which helps creative professionals to create careers and lives based on whatever story is most integral to their lives and careers (values, traits, skills and experiences). Peter’s approach combines in-depth storytelling and marketing expertise, and for over 20 years clients have found it effective with a wide range of creative business issues.
Peter is writer of the series The Heroine’s Journey and Hero’s Journey books, he has an MBA in Marketing, MBA in Financial Economics and graduated at university in Sociology and Communication Sciences.
PRICING
The Heroine’s Journey Coaching online sessions last 50 minutes and the fee is Euro 189 excluding VAT per session. The Heroine’s Journey Coaching is suitable for people at any stage in their career.
FAQ
Who can sign up for The Heroine’s Journey online coaching?
Creative leaders and creative professionals who wish to improve their business story and develop their business skills and mindset.
Should I choose 1:1 coaching?
Our The Heroine’s Journey experiences in world cities allow you to learn not only from the coach but also from your peers. For the small group coaching (1 – 4 people), we have selected important, relevant topics that we find regularly come up for creative professional: purpose, storytelling, creative confidence, self promotion, time & money and resilience.
If you would prefer to work alone or on a different topic, individual coaching is a better fit for you.
What language do we speak in the coaching sessions?
English.
Can I buy coaching for my organization?
Yes, you can! We support many organizations around the world with their coaching needs. Please contact us for more information.
Can I bring my own topics?
Yes, for individual coaching you get to choose your own topic.
Are coaching sessions confidential?
Yes. Peter will not share anything that is discussed in the coaching sessions.
Where will the coaching sessions take place?
Sessions will take place online (as per the times we live in) via an online tool like Zoom or Skype. Peter will let you know.
How do I sign up?
Send Peter a mail to theherojourneyquestionnaires@gmail.com to start booking your coaching sessions.
How do I pay?
After you send the mail, you will receive an email with a link to pay.
How do I book and reschedule sessions?
Once we’ve received your payment, Peter will contact you and book your coaching sessions. He will also support you with rescheduling sessions if needed.
What is your cancellation policy?
Individual coaching sessions can be postponed up to one week before the session.
The Heroine's Journey 