A vision of history
- POL comes from a long line of ceramic artists
- His work revolves around sculptures and wall art
- He draws inspiration from dynamics between people
The district of Nove, in the Northern Italian region of Veneto has been a hub for ceramics for the past 300 years and Paolo 'POL' Polloniato comes from a historic family of ceramicists. Having graduated in Venice at the Academy of Fine Arts, in 2008 he decided to take up ceramics after a stint in other visual arts. His vision for ceramics has a profound artistic take, as he focuses on the creation and making of sculptures and installations. To master his skills and develop his research, Pol had the opportunity to interact and work with several master ceramicists of the area, Alessio Tasca, Pompeo Pianezzola and Cesare Sartori, among others. When asked why he chose this profession he quotes a deep connection with his roots and the research of innovating within tradition.
INTERVIEW
I was born into a centuries-old family of ceramicists, in the heart of the ceramics district of Nove and Bassano del Grappa. Initially I felt great repulsion towards ceramic, preferring painting and photography. It was not until 2008 that I devoted myself to this craft.
I was drawn to it as I realised it could be the ideal medium to develop and represent my conceptual sculptural vision. It was a priceless motivation and challenge to be raised in a culture that operates on a vast industrial scale on one side, while treasuring exquisite and innovative craftsmanship on the other.
There are multiple sources. I like to observe and develop. There is a very personal and emotional side to what I do. I am inspired by contemporary society, by what surrounds me. My work is conceptual but connected to the times we live in, to history and its evolution.
Tradition means a lot to me. I like to analyse and revisit it. But I also like to innovate and experiment with materials. My goal is to convey my vision through my work, specialising in custom sculptures and ceramic wall art.
