Is ceramics a traditional craft in Pantelleria?
I am the only ceramicist on the island. What ties my craft to my homeland is that the island itself is my primary source of inspiration. In addition, it gives me the opportunity to source countless types of materials and substances, which I incorporate into my work.
How does the island inspire your work?
I am fortunate to live on a beautiful island, full of contrasts and countless shades of colours, where the lava rock creates strong and material landscapes. In my ceramics I try to recreate the energy of the solid magma and the brilliance of nature and the sea.
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What techniques do you use?
I work the clay on the lathe and sometimes freehand. I mainly use raku firing and more rarely saggar. I create my glazes using materials that I find on the island, such as volcanic sand, clays, quartz, obsidian, and water from the Mirror of Venus, a volcanic lake rich in minerals that alter the shades of the glazes.
How would you describe your work?
It’s a constant search within the material, in the sinuosity of the form. It’s a combination of countless elements, with which I strive to achieve an overall harmony. It’s the freedom to try to create beauty through the boundless world that never bores you, but most of the time amazes you.