Inspired by the Testa di Moro ceramics, la Testa dei Marmi is a 2023 reinterpretation of the icon that has adorned Sicilian balconies for centuries. Portrait, face, and close encounter: 001TDM is the result of Berenice Curt Architecture’s fascination with the head in all its shapes and artistic expressions. 001TDM is anonymous and androgynous, its expression ambiguous, paying homage to the Sicilian icon. Slightly larger than a human head, it is meticulously carved and sculpted from 4cm-thick blocks of marble, giving it this full-bodied presence.
Expertly crafted by Tuscan marble workers, located close to Carrare, who select the marble pieces depending on their current panel stock. The pieces are selected based on their unique veining and color variations from among 13 types of marble collected over the past three years from construction sites and quarries in Italy.
The collection is complemented by a series of pedestals showcasing these enigmatic faces. Available in three sizes – S, M, and L – they allude to the human form and manipulate perspective. From the wall-mounted variety, appearing to float effortlessly in space, to the imposing stature of the Modulor, standing at a height of 183cm, their shapes defy equilibrium and evoke simplified, distorted human silhouettes.
The reflectivity of polished stainless steel blends the pedestals completely into the landscape while providing a kinetic structure that captivates the observer’s gaze. These pieces appear to exist both inside and outside their spatial context – distorted reflections create a spatial experience and evoke a sense of intriguing and revealing visual perplexity, intriguing and revealing at once.
At the boundary between stability and fragility, between realism and abstraction, this display of sculptural pieces manifests as an experience both purely symbolic and structural in the balance it achieves.
| Dimensions LxWxH | 30x23x4cm (12x9x2'') |
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| Variations | No pedestal, S1, L2 |
| Weight (kg) | 5 |
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