Alberto Scodro on Ceramics, Territory, and Alchemical Processes

Alberto Scodro (b. 1984, Marostica) discusses his artistic practice centered on the transformation of natural and technological materials, with a focus on ceramics and the territory of Nove. He explains that his work starts from the earth, referencing Hermes Trismegistus and Lucretius. The 2007 crisis allowed him to acquire chemically interesting materials from failing ceramic companies, which he incorporated into his Untitled Glasssand (UG 2014-ongoing) series. These works compress time, space, matter, and energy through the fusion of sands, glasses, enamels, oxides, and metals, accelerating geological processes in kilns. The historical context dates to early 18th-century Nove, when the Brenta river powered mills to crush stones for crystalline and enamel production. Scodro also discusses his performance "I Magi" (2008) at IAUV Venice, inspired by Botticelli's Adoration of the Magi, where performers played ceramic drums coated with porcelain and UV-reactive medium. His work "Spinning Top" (2020) synthesizes ceramic matter into a form evoking the Earth's movement, while "Pacific Ocean" (2012) uses a 23° tilted terracotta flowerpot to suggest a trajectory toward the Pacific. For the Caves Gallery in Melbourne, he created "Paths forced into the palm of your hand" (2020) with found objects and "Australian Concentrate," fusing desert sand in a glass bottle immersed in ocean sand. The interview is part of the series "Gli artisti e la ceramica" on Artribune.