Salvatore Arancio on Ceramics as a Liberating Medium

Salvatore Arancio (Catania, 1974) discusses his use of ceramics in contemporary art, emphasizing a playful, process-driven approach that prioritizes spontaneity over technical mastery. He contrasts the material's sensory, pre-conscious dimension with the refined finishes of lustres, aiming to disorient viewers. Arancio highlights collaborations with artisans like Bottega Ceramica Gatti in Faenza, where traditional techniques merged with his own to create novel effects. His work has been featured at the 2017 Venice Biennale main section and a 2018-2019 solo exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery in London. He rejects nationalistic frameworks, instead embracing transnational influences, as seen in his Mexican residency where he connected local techniques to ancient bucchero ware. Arancio cites Ken Price, Lucio Fontana, and Leonardo Leoncillo as influences. The interview is part of Artribune's series "Touched for the very first time," exploring artists' first encounters with ceramics.