THE TALAVERA PROJECT / UN PROYECTO DE TALAVERA, is a research initiative executed by MANUFACTURA in collaboration with Uriarte Talavera, a workshop established in 1824 and recognized as the first producer of talavera in Mexico, and first to obtain certification under the Mexican Official Standard. As of 2019, this process is part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with the influence of Chinese, Arabic and Spanish processes adapted in a particular way in Mexico.
Uriarte artisans shared with us two major problems they suffer today: the lack of innovation and the high quantity of waste generated during production. The fundamental purpose of the project is to show a bit of our cultural heritage and to make visible the synergy between tradition and innovation, creating a new dialogue between handmade traditional craftsmanship and technological and industrial innovation.
This intervention is composed of two elements. The first is a column of 180 pieces of Talavera, replicated from a mold created from a 3D printed piece, colored with cobalt blue glazing based on mineral amalgam of aluminates and cobalt silicates, characteristic of the talavera craft. The process followed for the pieces was robotic printing with local ceramics, firing of the 3D printed part, plaster mold creation, production of black clay, first firing (jahuete or sancocho), enameling and glazing, cobalt blue paint, and second firing.
The second element is a carpet built up with waste from the workshop, including fractions of pieces that did not pass quality control measurements. This element invites us to think about ways in which we can recycle and transform waste into products of higher quality and ecological value, or simply develop more sustainably conscious practices.
CREDITS
_MANUFACTURA: Dinorah Schulte (invited artist, co-founder, project management), Edurne Morales (artist, co-founder, computational designer), Jared Zarate, Erick Marin (collaborators).
_URIARTE TALAVERA: Mariana Muñoz (chief executive officer), Arturo Rojas, Katia Ramirez (production management).
_URIARTE TALAVERA Artisans: Cesar Oropeza, Arturo Rojas, Miguel Vazquez, Hector Dominguez (barros). Artemio Romero, Ángel López (hornos). Claudia Pérez, Jessica González (calidad). Beatriz Chavez, Massiel Xique, Claudia Rocha (jahuete). Alberto Garcia, Carmen Cardona, Patricia de la Rosa, Santa Micaela, Norma Juarez (vidriado). Enrique Vazquez, Sergio Ayona, Guadalupe Ruelas, Neli Pérez (pintura). Ericka Alarcón (estarcido).
_Research, production, and material donation: Uriarte Talavera
_Photography and video: Arturo Arrieta, Enrique Aguilar, Dinorah Schulte
