Francesco Carone on Ceramics, Collaboration, and the Eternal Cycle

In an interview with Irene Biolchini, Siena-born artist Francesco Carone (b. 1975) discusses his turn to ceramics and the interplay of truth, fiction, and materiality. Carone distinguishes his collaborative project 'Tempesta' (2013–ongoing) from traditional collective works: it is a single painting whose surface is continuously repainted by invited artists, each layer covering the previous one. He contrasts this with his work alongside artisans, where he closely supervises and often erases their fingerprints. Carone reflects on his 2011 Palio dell'Assunta drappellone, a white silk banner referencing Duccio, which he made for all contrade, aiming to reconcile tradition and contemporaneity. He also touches on his earlier collective initiatives in Siena, TempoZulu and Museo d'Inverno, and admits he may have misjudged his own individualism. The interview is part of Artribune's series 'Gli artisti e la ceramica' (Artists and Ceramics), which has featured over 30 artists. Carone's works in ceramic include 'Erma Ermafrodita + Idolo' (2016), combining glazed ceramic with a 15th-century marble capital.