Spaces transformed into art, thanks to the Design Your Slabs technology

Francesco Simeti’s artwork draws inspiration from a famous line in a classic Italian song (by Gino Paoli), conveying a layered metaphor. The large ceramic slabs, realized with the Iris Ceramica Group’s “Design Your Slabs” printing technology, seamlessly customize the space with millimetric precision. They represent a true fusion of historical ceramic elements from various eras and regions across the globe.

A flawless, crystallized natural landscape, frozen in time, transcends human history, surpassing geographical and cultural boundaries. Animals and plants, depicted in their natural habitats on land and sea, form a world that is both poetic and tangible. These elements are drawn from the rich iconographic history of ceramic decorations, spanning from the Etruscan era to modern times, and are found on vases, plates, terracotta, and ancient ceramic surfaces from Turkey, Greece, and Italy.

“The ceramic process is really interesting, as it brings variables that often cannot be controlled, yet always create magical results. Ceramics have a practically infinite variety of finishes….and many souls,” Francesco Simeti explains.

Nature has long been a source of inspiration for Francesco Simeti, who often juxtaposes the natural world with the artificial constructs of human life in his works. This particular project, which spanned over six months of historical and geographical research, presented a significant challenge for the Sicilian artist, now based in New York. He masterfully created a collage with a perfect balance of solid and empty spaces, seamlessly blending the blank areas with intricate decorations.

Using Iris Ceramica Group’s “Design Your Slabs” printing technology, the ceramic slabs faithfully replicate every detail of Simeti’s collage, including what might be seen as “imperfections”—such as cracked glazes, tiny missing details caused by the wear of time, and the visible joints in the original surfaces. Even the rounded forms of decorated plates are preserved. The colors range from soft shades to bold solids, while the more delicate elements, like birds and butterflies, have been rendered in shiny gold, whether by intentional choice or unconscious selection.

The project will expand into the third dimension. As part of the upcoming events at Fondazione Officine Saffi, Simeti will lead a series of workshops open to various groups and communities, returning to his favorite aspect of working with ceramics—”getting his hands dirty.” New solid and fluid elements, inspired by nature, will be crafted and integrated as architectural features, gradually completing the site-specific artwork over time.

Sustainability, innovation, and exceptional quality define Iris Ceramica Group, a global leader in designing and developing premium natural ceramic materials for cutting-edge architectural solutions. Notably, they are the first company in the world to produce ceramic slabs using green hydrogen.