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ART•ISAN N°2

12.12.2024

After years of collaboration with Florentine artisans in the creation of Casa G. Firenze, we envisioned a project that would extend this experience and share it with a broader audience. Thus, ART•ISAN was born, a collective initiative dedicated to honoring the expertise of these master craftsmen by fostering an open dialogue with prominent voices from the worlds of art and design.

 

Following last year’s success, we proudly present the second edition of ART•ISAN, exhibiting the works of multidisciplinary artist Lorenzo Brinati and master marble artisans Paolo and Francesca of Officina del Marmo.  Brinati’s artistic foundation was forged in the historic botteghe of San Frediano, where he dedicated over two decades to the meticulous practices of conservation, restoration, and the study of figurative sculpting and painting. Y et, it was through this deep engagement with tradition that he discovered his desire to move beyond the confines of figurative representation. Drawing on his past sailing journeys to Greece and Turkey, Brinati began to shape a language uniquely his own, one that embodies the essence of timeless forms while revealing the innate beauty and purity of the natural materials he works with. In the very streets where Brinati spent his formative years, the artisans Paolo and Francesca carry forward the legacy of Florentine craftsmanship at the Officina del Marmo. Specializing in mosaics, scagliola, commesso fiorentino and the artful shaping of marble and semiprecious stones, their expertise spans from restoration work to decorative art to bespoke furniture. Many of their remarkable works can be seen at Casa G. Firenze, where their artistry is showcased in a contemporary context. The collaboration between Brinati and the Officina del Marmo is not merely a pairing of a sculptor with master artisans, it is a profound dialogue between two expressions of form, material, and meaning. Since ancient times, marble has symbolized the ideal of beauty, and in this edition of ART•ISAN, it is reimagined through two distinct approaches, revealing its limitless artistic potential.

 

During the evening, Lorenzo Brinati unveils his sculpture “Testa, a work that reflects his enduring fascination with the essence of primordial forms and the purity and expressive potential of marble. Though this is a singular piece, it resonates with a broader body of work that includes past sculptures of heads, each varying shapes and sizes and made from different marbles or onyxes. “Testa, resembling an ancient artifact, is defined by its elongated nose and an upper section of raw, unpolished marble that suggests a crown. The sculpture possesses an ethereal presence, as if suspended in space, exuding the enduring resonance of classical antiquity and reflecting the artist’s deeply personal philosophy of distilling the essence of nature and human experience into harmonious shapes. Echoing Brancusi’s belief that “simplicity is complexity resolved” , Brinati’s aesthetic embraces subtraction, simplifying each surface to its purest essence and revealing the underlying beauty of the subject. The marble Brinati used, a type called serpentino, was personally sourced from the Island of Elba. Brinati explained that, when searching for materials, he lets the stones speak to him, whispering of something within waiting to be revealed. Through this deep connection with the material, he seeks to “infuse spirit into matter. This process, he believes, requires an artist to confront themselves fully, as in sculpture, there is no room for doubt, only the certainty of bringing forth what is already inherent within the stone.

 

The artisan’s striking marble base, crafted from a single block of Rosa del Portogallo marble, serves as a fitting foundation for the “Testa”. Elevated by the intricate commesso fiorentino technique, originating in 14th-century Florence, the base integrates Giallo Siena, V erde Guatemala, and Napoleon Emperador stones. These materials intersect in seamless, continuous lines across three sides, showcasing remarkable precision and artistry. The dynamic interplay of planes and perspectives add depth and movement, inviting the viewer to engage from every angle. Though unassuming in scale, the base demanded over 120 hours of meticulous craftsmanship due to the complexity of its design . Beginning with detailed sketches mapping out the design and precise placement of each inlaid stone, the marble block was then carved, hollowed, and refined by hand. Each stone was selected for its unique veining, hand-shaped, and sanded to ensure a perfect fit. Once assembled, the entire surface was polished to enhance the natural beauty of the marbles. Francesca and Paolo describe their work as “immersive and all-encompassing, with both body and mind engaged in every detail” where the creative process demands absolute precision and leaves no room for error. The base is a work of art in itself, not just elevating the head but anchoring it in a poetic harmony of form and mastery.

 

What truly connects Brinati’s statue and the artisans’ intricate base is their shared exploration of balance, rhythm, and timelessness. The pursuit of perfection, which unites Paolo and Francesca’s craftsmanship with Lorenzo Brinati’s artistic quest, carries a meaning that transcends aesthetics, embodying an ethical dimension. For the completion of the work is nothing less than the revelation of truth. At its core, the collaboration invites us to consider the intersections of tradition and innovation, permanence and evolution, simplicity and intricacy. In this context, ART•ISAN becomes a celebration of the relentless quest for mastery, where craftsmanship and artistic vision converge to reveal deeper truths about both the material and the human spirit.