On Saturday 9th July 2016, 6-9pm, Instigate Arts take over the main gallery space at HOME in Manchester to host our ‘Ambition’ pop-up exhibition. In this series of Q&A’s we get a little more insight into what makes some some of the participating artists tick. Here we speak with Flautist Sara Minelli

Can you tell us about your practice?

Am a flautist specialising in Contemporary Classical Music. I perform original and experimental music. I enjoy working with composers and together we create exciting new works. Here is a link to my website: http://www.saraminelliflute.com

For this project have involved Matteo Giuliani who is an extremely good composer from Italy.

Am delighted that Kevin Burke has created a fantastic film montage for my work!

How does your work relate to the themes of Ambition?

My work is a piece for solo alto flute, electronics and film montage inspired by the myth of Narcissus. It explores the connection between ambition and narcissism.

The narcissistic personality disorder is a personality disorder in which a person is extremely preoccupied with prestige, vanity, power.. mentally unable to see the destructive damage they are causing to themselves and often others.

People whose level of narcissism is extreme, are very ambitious and they would do anything to fulfill their ambitions and desires. However, behind a mask of arrogance, they hide a very fragile ego, always in need for approval.

In the Greek mythology Narcissus was a very handsome young man. One day he went to a pool where he saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realising it was an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus lost his will to live because the love for his image could not be reciprocated. He stared at his reflection until he died.

Do you think the themes of Ambition relate to the current political and social climate?

Yes, definitely.

How important is the role of artists’, and the art world, in shaping both people’s lives, and the social and political landscape?

It’s extremely important. Artists communicate and bring up things which nobody dares to. They see the facts from a special perspective and with their arts they make people think, dream and hope. I wish more people will realise that the arts are the food for the mind and the soul and they can have a big impact on our lives.