Text and Image: Anke Buchmann
Highly recommended by Ceramic Art London
One of my personal highlights of Ceramic Art London, was the work by Italian artist Faust Salvi. His IDRAULICA series especially created for CAL 2016 is inspired by the aesthetics of pipes and pipe fittings. Salvi grafted the extruded pipe-like ends onto round coil built shapes, that strike with a surprising and powerful appearance. He explains, ‘the ceramic objects have been cooked in a furnace several times, with successive lasers of glaze which create a ‘skin’ that is strikingly colourful, sharp in contrast and with strong tactile effects.’
In his manifesto Salvi describes how he studied the expressive possibilities of clay and modelling to learn to communicate through shape and volume rather than only through drawing. He also discovered the surface of his pieces as abstract textures that he could modify with pure pigment.
His work has been shown in the UK, Italy, France, USA, Korea, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. Looking at his older pieces one can tell, his ceramics are very diverse, coming as plates, cylinders, jugs, vases, sculptures, wall pieces or furniture.
It was a true pleasure talking to Faust Salvi and I wish him all the best for the future. I am excited to see, what inspires him next.
Artist Website: www.faustosalvi.net