Thematic presentations

Thematic presentations were selected from an open call to IAC members, as well as the general public. The Congress theme “Ceramics in the Mediterranean World: from Antiquity to Contemporaneity” has been split into two parts (sub-themes): six speakers were selected for each sub-theme.

Jaume Coll

Moderator for sub-theme “Ceramic Confluences in the Mediterranean: A Historical View”

Jaume Coll biography

Stéphanie Le Follic-Hadida

Moderator for sub-theme “Ceramics in Contemporaneity: Reality, Relations and Confrontations in the Mediterranean World”

Stéphanie Le Follic-Hadida biography

SUB-THEME 1: “Ceramic Confluences in the Mediterranean: A Historical View.”

Umberto Battaglia & Monica de Marco

Presentation Title: “MEDITERRANEAN ECHOES: The Byzantine Legacy of Slipware. A comparison between the ceramics of Seminara (Italy) and the production of Tsanak Kale (Turkey)”

This contribution presents a new assessment of the relationship between the ceramics of Seminara and Tsanak Kale during the 19th and 20th-centuries. In Seminara, a production deriving from the ancient Byzantine technique of slipware eventually reached such peculiar and characteristic declinations that rendered this ceramics immediately recognisable. However, a comparative analysis of Tsanak Kale production can pave the way for a new understanding of possible connections between different centres of production across the Mediterranean basin.

Umberto Battaglia & Monica de Marco  biographies

Carmen Marco Dasi & Karine Pascual

Presentation Title: “Mediterranean Heritage”

In the quiet town of Manises, nestled on the eastern coast of Spain, the legacy of ceramics has endured for centuries of whispered stories of artistry and tradition. For generations, the people of Manises have dedicated their lives to the craft of pottery, producing works of stunning beauty that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Mediterranean. This story follows the journey of a young potter named Carmen, who uncovers the deep-rooted history and technical prowess of the ancestors in the pursuit of her own creative identity. Through her story, we can trace the evolution of Manises ceramics through the ages, from the influence of Islamic artisans to the colourful tiles (azulejos) that still adorn palaces and cathedrals today.

Carmen Marco Dasi & Karine Pascual biographies

Luis Ortega Echevarria

Presentation Title: “The St. Genadius Stone in the Church of Santiago de Peñalba”

This project explores the origins and cultural impact of AL pottery and lustre ceramics from the Abbasid Caliphate, emphasising their spread to the Iberian Peninsula. Inspired by the Mozarabic style, the project examines the influence of Islamic and Christian heritage in regional architecture. It also delves into the historical journey of ancient chess pieces from India to Europe, illustrating the profound cultural exchange and coexistence in medieval Spain.

Luis Ortega Echevarria biography

Jorge Pereira de Sampaio

Presentation Title: “Ceramics by Domenico Vandelli, from Italy to Portugal at the End of the 18th Century”

Domingos Vandelli (1764-1816), an Italian Illuminist invited by the Marquis of Pombal, played a crucial role in the evolution of Portuguese ceramics. As a professor at the University of Coimbra, he founded the Fábrica do Rossio de Santa Clara in 1784, introducing innovative glazes and colors previously unseen in Portuguese ceramics. Vandelli’s collaboration with the Real Fabrica de Louça in Porto brought further advancements, including stone dust tableware and unique “arraiado” decorations. His influence extends to the development of Portuguese porcelain, marking him as a transformative figure in 18th-century ceramics.

Jorge Pereira de Sampaio biography

Dr. Rosário Salema de Carvalho

Presentation Title: “In Blue and White: Reflections on Baroque Azulejos”

This lecture explores the evolution of Portuguese Baroque azulejos from the late 17th to early 18th centuries, focusing on their unique integration within architectural spaces. It examines the iconographic programs and intricate frames that define these ceramic works, highlighting their connection to European and Chinese influences. Additionally, the study traces the enduring impact of Baroque azulejos on modern artists, demonstrating how they have reinterpreted and revitalized this traditional art form in contemporary contexts.

Dr. Rosário Salema de Carvalho biography

Estefania Valls Urquijo

Presentation Title: “NAOS”

Almost every country in the world has used terracotta bricks for construction. Terracotta bricks are based on the principles of ceramics, and are a foundation for construction in the history of Europe and the whole world. But, the most important for me, a veridic material to study any culture. The NAOS project has been developed on the idea that terracotta bricks not only carry the basis of ceramics in their DNA, but are the common denominator in cultures of the world. This unity is not only material, but also symbolic and mystical.

Estefania Valls Urquijo biography

SUB-THEME 2: “Ceramics in Contemporaneity: Reality, Relations and Confrontations in the Mediterranean World.”

Bouriche Boumediene

Presentation Title: “The Status of Bider Pottery in the Village”

In the coastal village of Bider, near Tlemcen in western Algeria, traditional pottery remains a vital source of livelihood. Women in the village continue the age-old practice of crafting pottery at home, sourcing clay from nearby mountains. The process is labor-intensive, involving grinding, sifting, and mixing the clay by hand before shaping it into pots, cups, and vases. After drying, the pottery is fired in traditional brick ovens fueled by firewood, a meticulous seven-hour process that demands great effort. Once fired, the pieces are decorated with traditional materials before being sold and transported to major cities. Despite the technological advancements in society, the women of Bider preserve this time-honoured craft, ensuring its survival for future generations.

Boumediene Bouriche biography

Ray Chen

Presentation Title: “Gender, Voice, and Identity-Mediterranean Woman Artists”

This presentation examines the intersection of gender, voice, and identity among women artists in the Mediterranean over the past fifty years. It explores how these factors shape their cultural and artistic expression. Historically, women artists, especially in the southern Mediterranean, faced societal constraints that suppressed their voices. The 1990s brought a shift with cultural neocolonialism challenging existing narratives. This study questions whether women could freely express their artistic passions and if contemporary society now offers equal opportunities. It also considers the evolving roles of women in art, family, society, and history, reflecting a new understanding of their artistic identities.

Ray Chen biography

Antonio Fois

Presentation Title: “Ceramics in Dialogue”

The Mediterranean world has been for long time the vessel for cultural exchanges, vehicle for contamination and innovation through human history. Clay and ceramics have been at the core of this journey in many aspects of human life, and still are. Coming from Sardinia, an island rich in diverse influences, the artist’s practice is deeply shaped by this heritage, blending experiences from across Europe with an instinctive, site-specific approach. Their work explores displacement as a tool to foster dialogue and generate new understandings of the contemporary world.

Antonio Fois biography

Elahe Hosseini

Presentation Title: “Contemporary Ceramics”

In her presentation, Elahe Hosseini explores the theme of transformation through her ceramic sculptures, where each piece symbolises a cocoon—representing the beginning of a new life and the journey of evolution. Drawing from her background in illustration, she brings her ideas from the two-dimensional to the three-dimensional world, narrating the inner and outer changes that occur in a world full of uncertainty. Her works reflect the relentless pursuit of growth amidst challenges, where the cocoon marks the start of an unpredictable yet transformative journey.

Elahe Hosseini biography

Danijela Pičuljan

Presentation Title: “The Mare Modul Project: Underwater Ceramic Habitats for Restoration and Enrichment of Marine Flora and Fauna”

This presentation follows a group of artists, under the banner of the MARE MODUL project, who have created habitats — large ceramic artistic objects — that, when placed in the sea, form small reefs and serve as a substrate on and in which various organisms have settled. The project’s aim has been to restore and enrich marine flora and fauna.

Danijela Pičuljan biography