Arte povera movement
worthless
For this art piece Arte Povera i used discarded textiles, such as second-hand clothing, knits, tablecloths, and other used fabric fibers. The fabric was wrapped in clay, and I then created an entirely new shape with it. This new form was then transformed in the kiln, changing from textile to ceramic. The original fabric was completely burned away in the oven, leaving only a tiny layer of clay behind. In this way, a ceramic artwork was created from a material that was once just a piece of 'worthless' fabric.
arte povera movement
The Arte Povera movement served as the inspiration for this project. It was an avant-garde movement that originated in Italy in the 1960s. Artists criticized established institutions and created artworks from used, simple, everyday, and supposedly 'worthless' materials. It was an artistic way to critique industrialization and overconsumption.
Textile industry
There are clear parallels to be drawn with our present time. More specifically, recent insights and research on the pollution and environmental impact of the textile industry directly inspired this series. The fact that a piece of clothing is, on average, worn only three times in its lifetime as a garment is shocking to me. By transforming discarded textiles into a ceramic artwork, it is given new meaning and, ultimately, an eternal life.
paradox
The ceramic artwork inspired by Arte Povera may appear solid, but appearances are deceiving. The texture of the used fabric remains visible, yet the piece is hollow on the inside. Its beautiful and elegant exterior conceals a fragile and unstable interior. It is confronting to realize that, little by little, we are discovering how even the most stunning creations can have such a devastating effect on nature.
