The silicone flowers of a creative mind
- Gigliola discovered silicone by chance
- Since 2010 she has used this material to create flower vases and compositions
- Experimentation is the basis of her work
Gigliola Scagliotti has not always been a craftswoman: she began her career as a surveyor and only later dedicated herself to an activity in which she gave space to her creativity. To create her vases she uses silicone, a material that cannot be found in fine art shops and which requires continuous experimentation: from the creation of the tools, to the research of processing techniques, to the colouring methods. Starting from a very common silicone tube (acetic silicone), Gigliola manages to transform this shapeless and colourless material into lively flowering vases. As she points out, however, it is not magic: hours of work and a lot of effort are required to create her vases.
Interview
- Do you remember when you thought about starting this profession?
- I started by making small jewellery pieces and decorating furniture in an alternative way. Once, while I was working on a chair and trying to recreate the effect of snow, I discovered the artistic potential of silicone, which quickly became my only working material.
- What are your sources of inspiration?
- Most of my subjects are floral representations. I take inspiration from the world of nature, but I do not limit myself to copying the real thing, I prefer to give vent to my imagination and create imaginative flowers.
- What do you love most about your profession?
- I love everything about my craft, except for the smell of acetic silicone. It is pungent and penetrating and after hours of work it is annoying. I am currently trying out a type of odourless silicone, but I am still in the experimentation phase. Maybe one day I will be able to create a silicone that smells like the flowers I make!
- Is there a memorable moment from your life as a sculptor?
- Every time I see one of my vases in a beautiful shop window my heart opens. I started from a small shop and without expecting it I arrived at Homo Faber. The greatest satisfaction comes when we obtain results from our sacrifices, when we resolve the technical problems encountered during the implementation phase.
Gigliola Scagliotti is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2008
Where
Gigliola Scagliotti
