With care and respect for the materials she works with, she gives them the freedom to mould into the most unusual and diverse forms.
This creative process defines Federica Pelizzari, a ceramic artist who found her artistic voice here in Australia, amidst its beautiful landscapes and wild nature - a voice she believes never fully emerged in Italy.
Pelizzari recently joined us on Rete Italia to share her artistic approach and discuss ‘Topopatu’, her personal project that finds expression in creating unique ceramics inspired by natural elements and earth.
“I studied in Italy, specialising in maiolica, but it’s here that my artistic journey truly began to take shape,” Pelizzari emphasised.
“I knew I was an artist, that there was something inside me waiting to be expressed, but I didn’t know how.
“It was only by connecting with the authentic beauty of Australian nature that I finally managed to unleash my voice.”
This journey wouldn’t have been the same without the guidance of her mentor, whom she credits for teaching her to “visualise natural energy and freedom”.
Pelizzari also acknowledges her husband’s constant support. “[He] gave me the opportunity to express my voice, encouraging me every day, and to [him] I owe who I am today, both as a person and as an artist.”
The name ‘Topopatu’ originates from the blend of two nicknames Pelizzari and her husband use for one another, ‘Topo’ and ‘Patu’. It represents the solid foundation of her project: her artistic voice and talent, nourished by her husband’s love.
When asked about her approach, Pelizzari explained that “everything starts from a moment, from a meditative spiritual practice”.
For Pelizzari, there’s initially a disconnection from the external world, which in turn allows her to connect with the internal one, with her own original identity.
“Following this connection, there’s the visualisation of natural elements like water, earth, sun, and plants, which I then represent in my sculptures through colours, forms, and the use of natural materials like raffia, sewn onto the terracotta ceramic body.”
One of the main characteristics of her clay creations is their completely unique and diverse forms, reflecting a singular and delicate process.
“Clay is a moving element, a living element,” Pelizzari explained. “When I create, both my hands and the clay are alive, so we establish a connection and collaborate together.
“Clay also has a memory, so it tends to return to its previous state or shape, and I simply allow that to happen.
“From there, everything arises through the free expression of the material and the being.”
Pelizzari creates ceramics on commission and would one day like to see her creations exhibited in an art gallery.
For those interested, you can explore Pelizzari’s work on social media under ‘Topopatu Ceramics’.
