Luigina Rech

Il Micromosaico

Mosaic maker

©Giuseppe Siervo

Destination mosaic

Luigina makes art pieces and jewellery in micro-mosaic
To her, being an artisan is a passion, not a profession
She has been teaching her craft to others since the 1990s

Raised in Rome, since a very young age Luigina Rech has been exposed to art and to the unique beauty of the city of Rome. She still recalls her first visit to Saint Peter’s Cathedral as being “overwhelming.” It was in 1972, during a school trip to the Vatican Mosaic Studio that she came across the work of skilled artisans and fell in love with the craft of mosaic. Her apprenticeship with master artisan Vincenzo Renzi was followed by further studies in restoration and art history, that led her to opening her workshop in the mid-1990s. Luigina’s work focuses on micro-mosaic, using ancient techniques in the making of each tessera. Whilst sticking to tradition in the practice of her craft, she is constantly inspired by the shapes and colours of today and by innovative materials that make her approach more contemporary.

Interview

©Giuseppe Siervo

©Giuseppe Siervo

Can you recall your first memory connected to your craft?: I remember being enthralled by observing craftsmen shaping wonderful works of art with a file and tweezers. I imagined the magic in creating the many shades of colour, how fire would transform them and then the patience and skill required to match each tessera to create something to last.
Why is Rome so important to you?: I have always wanted to learn about its history and over time have discovered its duality: ancient and modern at once. My whole artistic journey has been about trying to understand, use and promote the techniques employed by the skilled craftspeople who probably made it the greatest art hub in the world.
When people visit your atelier what catches their attention?: I try to share that my creativity is expressed through transformation, from an idea to a sketch, then into a real object. What I have noticed is that many cannot believe how long the process of mixing glazes over fire to obtain a single shade of colour takes.
Which techniques do you use?: Today I specialise in the Roman minute mosaic, also known as spun enamel mosaic or micro-mosaic. This fascinating technique started in the Vatican in the mid-18th century and had its heyday during the Grand Tour in the 19th century.

Luigina Rech is a master artisan: she began her career in 1975 and she started teaching in 1990