Sforzinda - Vase Sculpture Ceramique, 2024

Diane Grant  

An imaginary city designed by the architect Florentin, Antonio Averlino called the Filaret, Sforzinda is considered by some to be one of the first ideal cities of the Renaissance. It is described in the text that the Filaret wrote for the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, in the first half of the 1460s.

The sculptural approach is expressed here through an in-depth research into the material. Ceramics become a field of experimentation where forms collide. The silhouette rises in several blocks, evoking architectures or geological formations. 
The work relies on a balance between simplicity and complexity. The volumes pile up with an organic appearance. Cavities and perforations come to rhythmize the surface, creating a play of shadow and light. 
The dark and lustrous aspect reinforces the physical presence of the piece. The irregular texture testifies to a spontaneous gesture, inherited from a rigorous study of the history of art and the masters of abstract ceramics. 
The object dialogues with space through its marked verticality. The glossy finish highlights every irregularity of the material. The whole stabilizes on a solid circular base, anchoring the composition in a mineral aesthetic.