If there is on earth and among all nothing something to be worshipped,
if there is something holy, pure, sublime,
something that can satisfy this incommensurable desire for the
infinite that they call soul, this is ART.
(Gustave Flaubert)
A NEW CHAPTER IN CERAMIC’S PRODUCTION
AZZURRA Art was born with the express aim of leaving behind the decoration traditionally used to put patterns on sanitary ware products. It is something totally different: the decoration is not done by the ‘decal transfer’ technique, but each piece is artistically hand-finished. The “blank canvas” is the AZZURRA sanitary ware with itsthe soft lines; the design originates from research on chemical pigments, the artist’s vision and his hand-painting skills. The special impact of multi-coloured motifs is given by the chemical reaction from firing the ceramic at 1250°, which gives the colours density and intense brightness.
The decor, which will never fade over time, is no longer simply a layer but becomes an intrinsic, integral part of the product. The fluid brushstrokes encircle the shape of the object, creating a harmonious visual unity. In the age of mechanical mass production these artefacts are capable of transmitting the ideas and emotions of those who have designed and created them: even if produced as part of a series, each is unique, born of a magical combination of heart and hand.
In the heart of central Italy, not far from Viterbo and Rome, there is an age-old tradition of working with ceramics, dating from the 10th century BC, developed by the Falisci people, the ancient inhabitants of the area. In the course of centuries and, in particular, after the discovery of the presence in the area of raw materials such as clays and the kaolin, the ceramics industry grew so much that by the 1930s it covered 80% of Lazio’s production. Tableware, sanitary ware and tiles are some of the product types whose manufacture involves thousands of people, and is evidence of a unique taste and know-how, deeply rooted in the local area. These two elements
are constantly fed by the culture and the tradition of an entire population, that belong to the industrial district of Civita Castellana.
TRADTION, INSPIRATION, INNOVATION
The city is built on volcanic ‘tuff’ rock, and buried inside it I seemed to recognize ash, pumice and fragments lava fragments. The view from the castle is beautiful: the Mount Soratte that stands out alone and picturesque. The volcanic areas are much lower compared to the Apennines and only the many streams, flowing freely, have carved gorges and ravines in stupendous flexible formations, with steep cliffs and an irregular and fractured landscape. (Johann Wolgang Goethe, 28 october 1786)
When a great number of craftsmen congregate in one area, and are all schooled in the same style of decoration, with a solid art foundation, specialized in decor applied to tableware, there is born a special alchemy of knowledge and skills, wedded to the geographic origins and culture of the place, irreproducible elsewhere. In Civita Castellana the inspiration that stimulates innovation is nourished by an almost wild nature characterized by lush vegetation and steep cliffs that edge the city centre. The inspiration is also fed by a concentration of thriving businesses, engaged in a continuous search for new technical and artistic solutions.
Due to the special configuration of the landscape and to the cultural traditions, the historical roots of local manufacturers can develop new fertile seeds. AZZURRA Art Project represents one of these new developments able to transform a widely consumed product such as sanitary ware, into a hand-made artistic object, different every time. This is an eloquent example of an original artistic vision and special manual skills.
THIS THE AIM OF AZZURRA ART PROJECT
The Art Project was born with the desire to give to everyday objects, such as a sanitary ware or a washbasin, particular artistic qualities. From the time we wake up until we go to bed ceramic objects accompany us in our day. As producers, we felt the need to create everyday objects with more artistic empathy so that we can admire them as well as simply use them.
Lovingly hand painted ceramic is the best way to give that added value which only man, given his creativity and manual dexterity, is capable of. The exclusivity and uniqueness of a product are the result of extreme attention to detail, thanks to the sensitivity of the people who design and shape these objects.
Up to now, in the world of ceramics, it was thought that applying a decoration with the simple technique of decal transfer was a form of art. For us, art is the invention of a new manual technique to create new and previously unseen graphic design techniques. The aesthetic tendency to reach new heights, the struggle to overcome the limitations imposed by the material and by technology, all of this makes the Art Project what it is. It is a chemist and an artist working together with a passion defy the principles of chemistry and the art of painting to “decorate” difficult materials, such as ceramics. WHEN A TEAM OF PEOPLE THINK, CREATE AND BUILD A PRODUCT WITH THE AIM OF MAKING IT UNIQUE, THEY BRING OUT THE BEST OF THEMSELVES. ONLY FROM THIS STARTING POINT CAN WEN DELIVER SOMETHING EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL”.
COMING SOON!
Amm. e Stab.: via Civita Castellana snc – 01030 Castel S.Elia (Viterbo – Italy)
Tel. +39.0761.518155 – Fax +39.0761.514560
azzurraceramica.it – info@azzurraceramica.it