Beyond the illustrious Sassi of Matera, Terraferma Ceramica fuses the rustic and digital together into a golden equilibrium to produce digitally-designed organic forms.
Far from being mere platonic volumes, these forms are an ode to Diele’s other passion for sailing, an aesthetic of freedom that is exercised in a natural/organic experimentation. We see this as a liberation in perception: there is freedom for the traditional medium of ceramics from its typically rustic manifestation, as well as the digital practice from its otherwise known as lifeless, mechanical roots.
Established in 2017, Terraferma’s narrative tells the story of our earth, its materials, organic forms and socio-political events. Some of their pieces are ceramic casts of everyday plastic objects, such as used plastic bottles and plastic bags, in an attempt to highlight long-lasting effect on earth and geology: a golden spike for future geologists.
Terraferma’s process to design its forms is a hybrid of manual and digital, which process is the result of a ‘digital’ mindset. None of the exhibited projects displays traditional mould-making methods. Rather the studio utilises an array of digital tools such as 3D modelling and 3D scanning and manual methods such as mould-taking from existing objects.
The translation of the forms from virtual space into the physical world is done with the use of various digital fabrication tools, depending on the form itself. Whereas for a set of glazed tiles with lettering a CNC milling machine was used, 3D clay printing was used in the formation of decorative vases. Every piece is fired in a kiln as the final stage of the making process.
Terraferma’s operations are clearly heavily reliant on collaborations with other like-minded designers and makers who contribute to the realisation of their pieces. It’s work ultimately having a communal element in its discourse, the involvement of third parties enhances and reinforces the identity of the studio to form a consistent and diverse narrative about the earth.
