67June 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

ARTISTICSICIS

68 INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY

the mosaicart centreSee mosaic as icons representing the signsand language of our times, as an expressionof trends, fashions and lifestylesMOVING MOSIAC from the limbo of

history to the modern day, Sicis (pronounced

SEE-chiss) created 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 interpreter, joining

together in infinite chromatic and decorative

combinations… shaping the outlines of

architectural features and living spaces.

The result is collections, such as Murano

Smalto, Glass3, Iridium, Metallismo,

Waterglass, Neoglass, 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

characteristic is part of Sicis’ genetic make-up.

Technology and know-how have been

developed in order to come out with

excellent products with 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

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

KAMAL GILL

ARTISTICSICIS

68 INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY

69June 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

IN 1987, I brought the artistic mosaic from the depths of historicaloblivion 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 (afactory) and turned it into the world of designers–says Sicis founderMaurizio Placuzzi

ARTISTICSICIS

70 INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY

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 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 photographic

"shots" in mosaic form that capture the image of a look, a profile, an

expression, a pose into the graphic precision of black and white. The

collection sees feminine and masculine figures change places and

71June 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

take centerstage–in private or public spaces like nightclubs,

restaurants, cafés, spas...

The attention to the body, to its physical presence, to its

"perfecton", is a relevant 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, it 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.