mosiac

ARTISTIC SICIS

all it’s cracked up to be Mosaic, the humble bath tile, has emerged as an icon that is representative of our times LL BUREAU MOVING MOSIAC from the limbo of history to the modern day, Sicis (pronounced SEE-chiss) creates artistic collections and prestigious creations that have become a symbol of avant-garde lifestyle.

As far as Sicis is concerned, surfaces exist to be “fitted out”, to be transformed into icons that represent the signs and languages of our time. It’s the mosaic tesserae, more than any other means, that acts as an interpreter, joining together in infinite chromatic and decorative combinations… shaping the outlines of architectural features and living spaces.

The result are collections, such as Murano Smalto, Glass3, Iridium, Metallismo, Waterglass, Neoglass and Basic, then moving on to Glimmer, Mirror, Bathtub, Flower Power, Colibrì and the latest Pin-Up, Hedonism, Magic Rug and Bisanzio–all authentic opportunities for artistic expression laden with suggestion and refinement.

It is clear that this versatility is combined with a wholly Italian creativity, one which touches the sphere of aesthetic sensibilities and style, but also contains a deep awareness of materials and a constant desire to experiment–to go one step beyond. This

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characteristic is part of Sicis’ genetic make-up.

Technology and know-how have been developed in order to come out with excellent products, with their inimitable style. Design ability impacts, first and foremost, the technical and manufacturing aspects, in which research forges ahead into the territory of avant-garde technology, the starting point for the uniqueness and beauty of Sicis mosaics.

From its headquarters, known simply as the Art Factory in Ravenna, Italy, Sicis operates showrooms in the fashion districts of Milan, Dubai, Moscow and Korea, but its New York facility is the company’s most impressive. The three-storey, 13,000-square-foot flagship in Manhattan’s SoHo neighbourhood features more than 25,000 square feet of mosaics. New openings include Chicago, New Jersey and Arizona. In 2009, Sicis will open in Germany and The Netherlands.

Sicis founder Maurizio Placuzzi keeps his eye on the small as well as the big picture.

“In the ’90s, our style was very close to Versace’s,” he adds, “but, like fashion, we are always evolving.”

The baroque Flower Power collection that Sicis released recently, recalls the hothouse fashion of Roberto Cavalli. The Night-and-Day and Mirror collections evoke the sleekness of Gucci designs. Night-and-Day features floral

INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY

“In 1987, I brought the artistic mosaic from the depths of historical oblivion to our modern age. We gave it a name (Sicis), a shape (tesserae 15x15 millimetres), a life (Sicis books), a material (marble, stone, gold, terracotta, steel, murano, smalto, iridium, glimmer, waterglass, synthesis and basic) and a future. We built a home (a factory) and turned it into the world of designers,� says Sicis founder Maurizio Placuzzi.

July 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

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ARTISTIC SICIS

patterns in black, white, platinum and 24-karat gold tiles, and includes a cast-iron bathtub ornamented with traces of gold and platinum.

The Mirror collection comprises reflective tiles made from clear Plexiglas and stainless steel.

While the bathroom is the obvious showcase for the mosaics in Sicis’ 20 collections, they can also grace a foyer, kitchen or pool, as in the case of celebrity resorts like the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, or the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

The collection, called Hedonism, is dedicated entirely to the body and to its almost sculptural beauty. It is a sequence of the photographic "shots" in mosaic form that capture the image of a look, a profile, an expression and a pose into the graphic precision of black and white. The collection sees feminine and masculine figures change places and take centrestage–in private or public spaces like nightclubs, restaurants, cafés and spas.

The attention to the body, to its physical presence, to its "perfecton", is a relevant

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theme in today's society.

Pleasure, in its every expression, hedonism to the fullest extent of the word, where instant gratification of individual desires becomes a philosophy. Hence, the name of the collection and its perfect adherence to contemporary models and ways of life.

The Hedonism collection is currently made up of six subjects, divided into female and male figures. Created with Murano-style weaves, the collection appeals to the fullness of colour, leaving little space–except in rare instances–to the weaves in iridium with iridescent effects..

Designed to make a dramatic visual impact–the fantastic Flower Power glass tiles are larger-than-life. A whole wall can become a work of art, with a floor-to-ceiling pattern of flowers–sunflowers, daisies, waterlilies, gerberas and poppies.

Besides new showrooms in Munich and Paris, Sicis is soon opening a showroom in New Delhi at D-5, Defence Colony.

MOSAIC MATTERS Besides becoming a to-be-coveted possession, the mosaic is also a source of intrigue for artists around the world. At a recent art exhibit, titled, The Mosaic Art Exhibit–Sum of All Parts 2, at the Bath House Cultural Center in Dallas, Texas, USA, local, national and international mosaicists recreated the ancient art of mosaics as a contemporary fine art sculptural medium, with extraordinary results.

From Julie Richey’s very original Nightshirt representation in entire mosaic to Shawn Newton’s portrayal of Adam, in a reflective pose after having bitten the proverbial apple, the captivating exhibition attracted the participation of American artists from Texas, Connecticut, Florida, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington, besides Canada.

The curator of the exhibition was Sonia King, who is known for creating one-of-akind, contemporary mosaics for gallery and home settings.

INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY

“If you are a woman and love shoes, you would love the shoe bathtub. The shoe bathtubs created by Italian SICIS is entirely covered in an artistic way with glass mosaic, and looks like a luxurious shoe...”

July 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

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