Close Window

Pedro Mauricio Rocha

"I've been an architect and artisan since 1969, when I began to sell leather items at the Ipanema hippie fair. I was one of the pioneers, and selling was a spontaneous activity - we didn't have many rules or regulations. It is a completely different situation now.

"I had been working ever since then as an architect and decorator until 1992, when I became fascinated with high temperature ceramics. In 1995, my teacher Clara Fonseca introduced me to the realm of glass fusion and the works of Anna Pardal. From then on, my roles as architect-decorator-artisan where reverted: from a profession that ruled over my hobby, to a hobby ruling over my profession!

"What I like most about glass are its vibrant colors, which are enhanced by their transparency. You can't get strong colors like vermilion or yellow with stoneware ceramics. I've always liked to use color in my work, even when I worked leather. Glass allows me to associate color with simpler forms, similar to Japan's Raku ceramic.

"Novica is an excellent window in which to exhibit my art. In 2000 and 2001, I had the opportunity to take my work to the University of West Georgia (USA) for the Brazilian Arts and Crafts exhibitions. I met with a favorable response from the American audience. Now, through Internet, I'll be able to show my work to an innumerable amount of people, thus breaking the barriers that separate us."