Order in disorder
- Eugenio got into clay from playing with mud
- A master ceramic artist from California was his mentor
- He loves to use the innovative Parian clay
Born and raised in Italy, Eugenio Michelini came in contact with clay at a very early age when playing in his parents’ vegetable garden. “Clay – or rather mud – has been the medium to build my toys, to entertain myself and to reproduce what was around me.” The landscape and the territory around him – rich in organic forms such as plants, flowers and vegetables – became his favourite source of inspiration. In 2020, Eugenio obtained an MA in ceramic and glass from London’s Royal College of Art. Now it is the observation of nature and the dynamism and animation found in Mannerist and Baroque styles of decoration. “The serpentine gestures and shapes of its figures, almost artificial, are distorted with an incredible tension that engages the viewer. This theatricality triggers my curiosity and the desire to explore it through Parian clay.”
Interview
- What attracted you to ceramics?
- I chose this craft because I feel a strong connection with the material, for its tactility, visual appeal and versatility. The conversation with ceramics can produce surprising results and I feel clay is the best material for developing my own artistic voice.
- And why do you like to use Parian clay?
- Parian clay is an imitation of the marble from Paros, which is famous for its whiteness and used by Ancient Greeks for their sculptures. Parian clay, mixed with oxides and stains, provides me with a wide range of surface qualities.
- How important are your Italian roots in what you do?
- The Italian traditions and style strongly influence my work in the form of decoration – despite the fact that I am using a material, Parian clay, which is innovative. I think of myself as an Italian ceramicist who has been learning his practice from abroad with influences from foreign cultures and styles.
- Do you remember the first object you made?
- As a student, the first object I made was a vase in the shape of Khepri, the Egyptian scarab God. Meanwhile my first piece of work since becoming an artist was a porcelain vegetable garden, as a memory of my childhood playground.
Eugenio Michelini is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2012
Works
Where
Eugenio Michelini
