The purpose of this workshop was to become familiar with architectural ornamentation through a variety of approaches, focusing on plaster mouldings. By studying the history and theory of mouldings, from ancient Rome to Postmodernism, and visiting several iconic buildings in the city of Naples, we approached the subject with the challenge to re-interpret ornaments in a contemporary way. At the same time, we were initiated in the production of mouldings following the traditional technique of casting plaster, as instructed by Italian artisans. Each of the participants had the chance to learn how to cast and experiment with shapes, as well as create our own mouldings. Using 3D scanning, we were also able to digitalise existing mouldings we found around the city, so as to use them for the project. The aim of the project was to produce a site-specific installation using our cast pieces, inspired of and referring to the city of Naples while portraying our own ornamental vocabulary. 

For my project, I took inspiration form the Nile God statue located in the city centre. By studying the profiles of the statue, its position related to the surrounding built space and to different points of view, I attempted to recreate the same environment by locating my final piece in the underground floor of SMMAVE. The final piece consists of a combination of mouldings found in the city, which are all put together in an unusual setting, so as to form a sculpture that changes as one moves around it, or as light falls on it. Inspired by the cornucopia held by the Nile God, my piece aims to translate the visual richness and plentifulness that I perceived to be the image of Naples. 

plaster, hemp fibre, rubber moulds, 3D scanner, projector

location: SMMAVE Centre for Contemporary Art, Naples, Italy 

individual project | Architectural Association Visiting School Naples  | 2018