Ceramic Drawing 2023.Calais
1.- Data
- Title: Ceramic Drawing 2023 Calais
- Art and Project: Juan Carlos Olabe y Xabier Basogain - JC&X
- Collaborators: (see list below)
- Technique: Ceramic Sublimation
- Size: 244 cm x 122 cm
- Date: November 2023
- Place: Engineering School of Vitoria-Gasteiz
"Ceramic Drawing 2023.Calais" is a work of art that combines the traditional ceramic medium with the modern process of digital sublimation. This is a contemporary process that involves the first step of depositing color dye onto a transfer paper. The ink from this transfer paper is then transferred to a tile that has been specially treated to accept the dye. This method creates tiles with intensely bright colors. In this piece we study how the human brain processes and experiences and interprets art that merges different artistic traditions. This artwork depicts a minimalist glass and metal structure by the sea. It fuses the representational tradition of Roman mosaics with the geometric aesthetics of the Islamic mosaics. The Roman mosaic tradition primarily focuses on representational and pictorial imagery. It thrives on detailing, with tessellation meticulously chosen based on color and shape to emulate real-life objects like hands, heads, and other discernible figures. This method gives a distinctive character to the artwork, allowing observers to connect with familiar shapes and forms. In stark contrast, the Islamic mosaic tradition abstains from portraying human or animal forms. Instead, it leans heavily on abstract geometric patterns. The emphasis is on the play of shapes, lines, and colors, creating an aesthetic experience that's both meditative and captivating, letting the observer's mind wander within the confines of these patterns.
This work is complemented in the same physical place with the work Ceramic Drawing 2023.Warsaw and Ceramic Drawing 2023.Prague
2. How Ceramic Drawing.2023 Calais was installed
3.- Design
This artwork merges these traditions. While the color variations channeled the Roman style's objective representation, the consistent geometric pattern echoed the abstraction and symmetry inherent to Islamic mosaics. This blend presented a novel visual narrative, showcasing how different artistic paradigms can harmoniously coexist, and in doing so, offer enriched, layered visual experiences. The visual experience and interpretation of the observer rests primarily in the color variance within the tiles, conveying the essence of buildings, sea, and sky. The blend of Roman and Islamic mosaic traditions produced a unique aesthetic experience, highlighting how the brain fills gaps and processes combined visual cues.
