50° Faenza Award
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The International Competition of Contemporary Ceramic Art in Faenza has been profoundly renewed to continue to be that sure authoritative world reference point of ceramic art, which has gradually established itself since 1938 to the present day. The 50th edition of the Biennial Competition has in fact identified new criteria for the selection of works, aimed at making the new generations think and stimulate on research, on the renewal of techniques, materials, forms and modes of expression of this art. The new proposal met with the favor of 578 young artists from 57 countries of each continent, who sent 1,378 works. Their vision therefore offers up-to-date documentation on the artistic trends of this century and on contemporary ceramics, contributing to further characterize the role of Faenza as a showcase and crossroads of diverse and driving experiences in the field of aesthetic research, design and production. The rigor that inspired the jury (the Australian ceramist and publisher Janet Mansfield and the American contemporary ceramic art critic Garth Clark) recognized the cultural differences, aiming to enhance the international level of professionalism in the use of techniques and in the expression of ideas achieved by the selected artists. The same rigor has allowed us to identify ” future promises” of ceramic art, highlighting those elements of freshness, those aesthetic intuitions and that touch of recklessness and youthful rebellion to the “classic rules” that, as such, allows to keep open the door to experimentation, innovation, creative imagination. [… ]
Enrico de Giovanni
REPORT OF THE JURY
The 50th Premio Faenza, held at the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza in 1997, is intended for young potters and artisans with the aim of encouraging new and energetic approaches to ceramic art. […] Walking through the works on display on the tables we were well aware of the long tradition and the high reputation of the competition of Faenza. The set of works viewed contained a wide range of ideas, with a diversity of measure and technical ability. It was our responsibility to choose significant works that testified competence in the use of materials and ceramic processes and also to demonstrate determination of aesthetic intentions and points of view individual. We were looking for a work that had integrity, that expressed individual goals, a work that brought new light to traditional ceramic values or could relate to contemporary life. We have found these criteria adopted. From the most delicate porcelain to the expressive rough terracotta, from important and committed social statements on the human situation to lyrical pieces romantically inspired by nature, architectural buildings or organic and anthropomorphic forms, these works from around the world reflect different contexts and different aesthetic. Rilssato or dynamic, fragile or powerful The “Faenza Prize 1997 showcases the existing possibilities in the field of ceramics at its extreme poles. To be able to judge these expressions of art so diverse and personal needed long discussions within the jury that, However, he agreed on the merit of the winners and on the fact that the competition 1997, 50th edition, will turn out to be an excellent exhibition, which will well deserve the high tradition of the “Premio Faenza”.
Janet Mansfield
Catalogue “Multiple”; artist’s books from the collection of the National Bibiloteca of Luxembourg
2020
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