Serena Fineschi on Ceramics, Body, and Memory at Palazzo Monti

Serena Fineschi (b. 1973) discusses her recent shift to ceramics in an interview with Irene Biolchini. Fineschi, who splits her time between Siena and Brussels, presented her first ceramic works at Palazzo Monti in a show curated by Marina Dacci titled 'Vogliamo parlare d’amore?'. The exhibition explores the body as a measure of existence, with ceramics serving as a direct extension of physical gesture. Fineschi compares clay to her earlier use of chewing gum, noting that while both are malleable, clay demands rigorous discipline. She worked with master ceramist Aida Bertozzi in Faenza, the historic center of Italian ceramic art, to produce the pieces. The works incorporate autobiographical texts that function as both captions and integral components of the art, creating a circular relationship between word and object. Fineschi cites influences from Arte Povera and performance art, emphasizing small, intimate gestures over grand statements. Her practice engages with Italian art history, referencing Duccio di Buoninsegna's 'Maestà' and her own 'Trash Series' (2018). The interview is part of Artribune's ongoing series 'Gli artisti e la ceramica'.