Victor Fotso Nyie

Ceramicist

©Matteo Buoso

©Carlo Favero

Ceramics with an African soul

Victor discovered art thanks to his father, a painter
He moved to Italy from Cameroon to study ceramics
His works are strongly influenced by African traditions

Victor Fotso Nyie has been living in Italy since 2012. He left his native Cameroon to study ceramics: "In my country, there are neither university degrees in this subject nor places where you can buy high-quality materials, lathes or kilns. In villages, people use unglazed pottery to make pots and other things for everyday use." After seeing artisans manufacturing ceramics in 2007, whilst visiting the School of Applied Arts in Mbalmayo – where he had planned to go to study painting – he knew it was exactly what he wanted to do with his life. Five years later, Victor moved to Ravenna to study mosaics at the Academy of Fine Arts. Since then, he has attended a two-year ceramic course, then obtained a master degree in sculpture. Since 2017, he has split his time between working in one of the historical ceramic workshops in Faenza and in his own studio.

Interview

©Matteo Buoso

©Matteo Buoso

When and how did you first approach art?: My father is a painter and has always encouraged me to become an artist. When I was 12, he began taking me to his studio, where I learned to make portraits and sculptures. Back then, I would have preferred to play football, but now I am grateful for his persistence.
How would you define yourself as an artist?: I’m a plastic artist and sculptor giving form to matter. What I like most is dealing with the manufacturing process of ceramics from beginning to end, from shaping the clay into plaster moulds to decorating, glazing and firing.
Do you have a favourite subject for your artworks?: I love focusing on faces. Since I started making portraits, I’ve been fascinated by the fact that even though we all have eyes, noses and mouths, everybody is different from one another. But it’s also in homage to the African belief that the human soul resides in the head.
Does Africa play an important role in your creations?: Yes. I made a vase to commemorate migrants crossing the Mediterranean, a sculpture representing children who reclaim their cultural heritage. Gilded surfaces are to me a symbol of inclusivity, because they reflect whatever is around them, overcoming racism.

Victor Fotso Nyie is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2010